I’ve brushed it up just a little, including changing the title to “The Guardians of the Gate.” I’ve posted the full translation of the story, as it now stands, at my new blog.
On the morning of the fourth day, Tang Tai Zong and his officials came to the gate. On seeing the images, they expressed their amazement at the likeness to the two men. It was as if the two warriors stood there in the flesh.
On the image of Qin Shu Bao was placed armour with the appearance of a tiger. In its two hands, it grasped a long key, and across its midsection it wore a bow and arrows.
The figure of Yu Chi Gong wore lion-like armour, and in its hands it did not carry a spear or iron weapon. His face was not like Qin Shu Bao’s, fair and of a delicate sort of beauty. Instead, his face was red and black, with eyes glaring wide as copper coins. The fierceness of these godlike images caused real fear in the spirit of the headless River God. He did not dare return to disturb Tang Tai Zong’s sleep again.
Tang Tai Zong finally came up with a plan. “Go throughout the country and find the best artist,” he decreed. “Bring him to me. He can craft images of thse two warriors on my city gate, depicting them with most warlike expressions on their faces. That should be enough to frighten the demon away.”
The master artist came and carefully observed Qin Shu Bao and Yu Chi Gong’s appearance. He began to work on a draft of the images, their bearing, colors and hue, that would appear at the gate. He worked nonstop, and after 3 days and 3 nights, he finished the job.
This is a continuation of the translation of the Chinese fairy tale “The God of the Gate”
Hearing this tale, Tang Tai Zong’s face drained of color. He was filled with fear. He had never imagined that the God of the Jing River would have so much difficulty escaping his destiny.
He felt sorry for the River God.
It’s been a while since I last posted a part of this translation (I couldn’t get my hands on my copy of the book while my house was under major renovations for the past month). It will be more regular until it is finished, and then I will post a full version and index to the earlier posts.
It was not uncommon for Wei Zheng to join the Emperor for a game of chess from time to time. But after having spent the day in a garden stroll, he was genuinely tired. They played for a while, until Wei Zheng grew so tired that he dazedly took his chess pieces in hand, half asleep as he played.
Tang Tai Zong thought to himself, “If Wei Zheng takes a little nap here, all the better. That way, he won’t set foot out of my door at all.”
After a short while, Wei Zheng suddenly jumped up and said, “Now that is scary!”
After spending the day roaming through the imperial garden, Tang Tai Zong invited Wei Zheng to stay and have dinner with him. When the meal was finished, Wei Zheng prepared to take his leave. Feeling the dreaded time drawing upon him, Tang Tai Zong laughed and excitedly exclaimed, “I’d really like to have a game of chess today! Why don’t you stay and join me for a game?”
