Mountain Songs

Naha Harbor Perilous Rock

Search

About us

Contact us

Slideshow Google Map Timeline Timemap Text Mode Comments (0)

Naha Harbor Perilous Rock

        Xu Baoguang 1671-1740

Gigantic rock
        sprawls at harbor mouth,
Heaven formed
        robust at ocean gate.
A great sea tortoise floats,
A tiger sqats
        mountain tall
                glaring.
As it gnaws the sand dyke
        of the silent town
In rage
        it shreads the storm winds.
Raging waves lacerated
        yet return again,
Pacifed
        gentle swell flowing.
The Yellow River God
        sends the tides here,
Lowering his head
        as he sends them off.
Zhongshan macho stone most powerful,
In the emerald sea a horned dragon.
On the right a palm leaf wall,
On the left a neighing horse.
Outlying islands thirty six more,
Distant
        remote
                an endless barrier.

Nàbà Wānkǒu Xiǎnshí

Xú Bǎoguāng 1671-1740

Jùshí gèn gǎngkǒu,
Tiān shè hǎi mén zhuàng.
Áo dài yǎnruò fú,
Hǔ dūnyì xiāngxiàng.
Jìng zhèn niè dī shā,
Nù bò yíngfēnglàng.
Kuánglán què dǎo huí,
Ān liúshǐ xú zhǎng.
Féngyí sòng cháo lái,
Dītóu tīng shōufàng.
Zhōngshān xíngshì xióng,
Bìhǎi liú qiú yàng.
Yòuyì yè bì zhāng,
Zuǒbì mǎchǐ bàng.
Wàidǎo sānshíliù,
Yáoyáo ruò lián zhàng.

Translator: Dongbo 東波

Notes:
Today no one visiting Naminoue, Above the Sea, in Naha, Okinawa, would never see this outcropping rock. Approaching it from land there is just a gentle slope leading up to Naminoeu Jinja. It is only from the sea that it is visible for what it is, a gigantic rock looking like a turtle or sea dragon jutting out of the rocky shore. It was from the sea that ancient travelers approached Okinawa and this rock named 馬加, Majia or Joined Horses, was the major feature at the entrance to Naha Harbour.