West of golden sky, where white sun sets.
Old Kang, the barbarian youth, born in moon's cave.
Craggy in demeanor, austere in bone.
Jade-bright pupils in both eyes,
Golden-curled, both temples red.
Canopy hangs from his lashes,
Mount Song rests upon his lips.
Not seeing his strange visage,
Who knows the spirit of Creation?
The Great Dao is Wenkang's stern father,
Primordial breath his old parent.
Patting heads, he toys with Pangu.
Pushing carts, he turns heaven's wheel.
Says he saw sun and moon first born,
Smelted fire-essence and quicksilver.
Sun-crow not yet left the valley,
Moon-rabbit half hides its form.
Nüwa played with yellow earth,
Kneaded it into foolish mortals.
Scattered through the universe,
Vast and misty like desert dust.
Life and death never cease,
Who knows this barbarian is immortal truth?
In Western Sea planted Ruomu trees,
In Eastern Sea planted Fusang.
Since parting, how much time has passed?
Branches and leaves stretch ten thousand miles.
Central Land had seven sages,
Midway declined into primal chaos.
Your Majesty, answering fate, arose,
Dragon-flying entered Xianyang.
Red Eyebrows set up Penzi,
White Waters raised Han's Guang.
His roars shake the Four Seas,
Great billows are winnowed by him.
Lifting foot, he treads Purple Tenuity,
Heaven's gate opens of itself.
Old Kang, moved by utmost virtue,
Comes east to present immortal performers.
Five-colored lions,
Nine-bloom phoenixes,
These are Old Kang's fowl and hounds,
Crying, dancing, flying to emperor's land.
Dripping wet, swift and dense,
Advancing, retreating in formation.
Can sing barbarian songs,
Offer Han wine.
Kneel on both knees,
Stand on both elbows.
Scatter flowers, point to sky, raise pale hands.
Bow to dragon-face,
Offer sage longevity.
Northern Dipper tilts,
Southern Mountain crumbles.
Son of Heaven, nine-nine eighty-one thousand years!
Forever tilt the万岁 cup.