11月25日

焰口召請文
宋 蘇軾 ( 1036~1101 )

累朝帝主，歷代侯王，
九重殿闕高居，萬里山河獨據。
西來戰艦，千年王氣俄收；
北去鑾輿，五國冤聲未斷。
嗚呼！
杜鵑叫落桃花月，
血染枝頭恨正長。

築壇拜將，建節封侯，
力移金鼎千鈞，身作長城萬里。
霜寒豹帳，徒勤汗馬之勞；
風息狼煙，空負攀龍之望。
嗚呼！
將軍戰馬今何在？
野草閑花滿地愁。

五陵才俊，百郡賢良，
三年清節為官，一片丹心報主。
南州北縣，久離桑梓之鄉；
海角天涯，遠喪蓬萊之島。
嗚呼！
官貺蕭蕭隨逝水，
離魂杳杳隔陽關。

黌門才子，白屋書生，
探花足步文林，射策身遊棘院。
螢燈飛散，三年徒用工夫；
鐵硯磨穿，十載慢施辛苦。
嗚呼！
七尺紅羅書姓字，
一抔黃土蓋文章。

江湖羇旅，南北經商，
圖財萬里遊行，積貨千金貿易。
風波不測，身膏魚腹之中；
途路難防，命喪羊腸之險。
嗚呼！
滯魄北隨雲黯黯，
客魂東逐水悠悠。

懷耽十月，坐草三朝，
初欣鸞鳳和鳴，次望熊羆叶夢。
奉恭欲唱，吉凶只在片時；
璋瓦未分，母子皆歸長夜。
嗚呼！
花正開時遭急雨，
月當明處覆烏雲。

戎衣戰士，臨陣健兒，
紅旗影裡爭雄，白刃叢中敵命。
鼓金初振，霎時腹破腸穿；
勝敗纔分，遍地肢傷首碎。
嗚呼！
漠漠黃沙聞鬼哭，
茫茫白骨少人收。

──選自《瑜伽集要焰口施食儀》

November 25

Yogacara Flaming Mouth Summoning Verse
Su Shi (1036 - 1101, Song Dynasty)
English translation: William Chong

Beckoning the spirits of emperors, monarchs, and marquis from the
past dynasties, those who have resided in nine-tiered palaces, and had
over ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers to oneself.

The battle fleets that came from Western Jin had suddenly ended a
millenium of reign. The imperial sedans that went towards the north
had yet to cease the moans of grievances from the Five Kingdoms.

Alas! The cuckoo's mournful calls have caused the descent of the
springtime moon; the branch tips have been dyed with the blood of
enduring hatred.

Beckoning the spirits of generals who have been decorated on
ceremonial altars, dukes who have been appointed on the emperor's
engraved orders, whose strengths were capable of moving a golden
tripod weighing thousands of pounds, and whose bodies made up the
Great Wall.

They lived in tents painted with leopards in the bitter winter,
and strove only to make wartime contributions; when the wind had
extinguished the smoke of war, there was no longer hope of rising
through the ranks.

Alas! Where are the generals and war horses now? There is only
the ground sorrowfully covered with wild grass and flowers.

Beckoning the spirits of talents in the five imperial mausoleums,
and the virtuous and capable in the hundred prefectures, those who
had served in full integrity for three years as officials and repaid the
kindness of the emperor with complete loyalty.

They have lived in the Southern provinces and the Northern
counties, leaving behind their homelands for long; at the far reaches
of the kingdom, they lost their lives on the fabled Penglai island of the
immortals.

Alas! The bestowed titles have floated away like leaves on flowing
water, and the distant departed souls have been separated by the Yang
Gate of life and death.

Beckoning the spirits of the academically gifted and the humble
students, the third-place wanderers amongst the literati; those who
have taken the examinations and traveled through the examination
grounds.

The fireflies'* light had been scattered; three years of effort have
gone to waste. The steel inkstone had been worn out; there went ten
years of diligent work.

Alas! Their names are written on the piece of seven-foot red silk
that hangs before their coffins, and the soil atop their graves covers
their writings.

Beckoning the spirits of traders who have resided in foreign
lands everywhere, peddling goods to the North and South, who have
traveled countless miles for profit, and have accumulated large stocks
of goods to trade.

The unpredictable storms and blizzards had caused the bodies to
end up in fishes' stomach. The dangers on these travels were difficult
to guard against, running the danger of being the goat's fodder.

Alas! These immobile soul have followed the dark clouds to the
North, migrant spirits have been evicted to the South with sorrow-
filled water.

Beckoning the spirits of mothers who bore the burden of pregnancy
for ten months, who sat on grass in observation for three days. Early
in marriage, it was hoped that the couple may be harmonious; a further
wish cherished to have a brown bear appear in the mother's dreams**.

When the sounds of “servitude” and “respect” were about to be
sung at the time of childbirth, safety and danger hung in the balance.
Before the child's gender had even been determined, both mother and
child had reached the ends of their lives.

Alas! The blooming flower has met the pouring rain; the bright
moon has been covered by gloomy clouds.

Beckoning the spirits of soldiers in military uniform, those who
were on the frontline, those who battled for honor in the shadow of the
red army flag, and fought amongst the forest of sharp blades.

Between the time the drum for attacking and metal for retreating
was struck, stomachs were ripped and guts were split. When victory
or defeat was determined, the battleground had been covered with
injured limbs and broken heads.

Alas! In the sandstorm rings the cries of ghosts; in the sea of white
bones, few have been retrieved and buried.

── from Yuqie Jiyao Yankou Shishi Yi
(Liturgy on the Collection of Key Points of the Yogacara Bestowal Food to Flaming Mouths)

* A metaphor for the scholars' bags.
** It is said such a dream is a forecast of bearing a baby boy.