In this post I will translate the hymn of feeding ghosts from the 瑜伽焰口 YujiaYyankou/Yuqie Yankou
Hun Yeow Lye in his PHD thesis, entitled Feeding Ghosts (https://library.victoria.ac.nz/ebooks/UMIthesis_Lye_FeedingGhosts.pdf) has translated the hymn. Although literal and detailed, I feel it does not fully capture the moving simplicity of the hymn itself.
There are actually two hymns in the liturgy. The first- and more commonly recited one- is translated here. A second, slightly shorter hymn was also provided by the editor of the Yankou, and was stated as being 'used only by our temple' . The author hopes to translate it soon
In some ways this hymn is the ritual and emotional climax of the rite: By the time this hymn is sung, the rite would've gone on for about an hour and a half. In that time, mandalas were offered, mantras chanted, and the ghosts invited. At this stage, the chief celebrant- dressed in a glorious scarlet robe, with the imposing 'crown of the five buddhas' on his head, tosses the consecrated food-- sweets, biscuits, rice and so on, in front of him (or sometimes to the side); food consecrated so the starving ghosts can consume it. An old custom is for the crowd to take the sweets thus thrown, as they are percieved to be blessed; in this almost carnivaleqsue atmosphere, this hymn is sung.
This hymn about the transience of all mortal achievements-- The ghosts of kings and their consorts are first called up-- their glories all turning to dust. Then the ghosts of ministers and warriors, servants of the state, cruelly abandoned by the nation that they served. The hymn then proceeds to more ordinanary people-- filial sons, sage daughters, who died for their parents; scholars who failed in their dreams; merchants who died far from home. Then it goes on to the detested; the abandoned. The disabled, abandoned by society; others who died terribly-- their bodies smashed by walls, drowned in floods. Finally the detested dead-- the depraved souls who rebelled against parents, attacked buddhism-- those wretched souls are also fed.
When I go to a Yankou, i always tear up a bit when they sing this hymn. How many people do I know fill these categories? How narrowly, have perhaps I avoided those fates myself?
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The practise of scattering the food is nowadays seldom done in the bigger buddhist monasteries (not least because of the chaos it creates).Rather, in modern the chief celebrant scatters the food to his side, or else into a cordoned off area. In the daoist equivalent of the rite eg (青玄济炼铁罐施食) , scattering food for the public is still done as a matter of course.
___
There are a variety of tunes used to sing this hymn to. This one, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5KHPXC9x68 is in my opinion the most pleasant and moving. This, however, seems to have been replaced in recent years with an incongruously cheerful tune: Another video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW6KQ9UpE4c and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BfjDPTM_K0
You can find a copy of the liturgy here https://archive.org/details/20221202_20221202_1542/page/n125/mode/2up
1-近代先朝。帝主尊榮位，
Emperors, lords and nobles,
Of recent and past dynasties
勳戚侯王。 玉叶金枝貴，
Meritorious dukes and princes;
Nobles of the golden branch
宰執中宮。婇女嬪妃類，
Holders of the Central Palace,
Ladies in waiting; Maids and Princesses;
夢斷華胥，来受甘露味。
Your dreams shattered, the flowers wilted
--- come receive the amrit!
2-國士朝臣。經緯匡時世。
Servants of country and court,
Who rectified your country in times of need;
牧化黎民。未遂忠良志。
Taught the common folk
牧化黎民。未遂忠良志。
Taught the common folk
who were yet loyal, good or steadfast
失寵懷憂。謫降邊邦地。
Losing favor, brooding sadly;
Banished to distant lands
戀國遊魂。來受甘露味。
Souls who love your country
-- come receive the amrit!
Losing favor, brooding sadly;
Banished to distant lands
戀國遊魂。來受甘露味。
Souls who love your country
-- come receive the amrit!
3-武將戎臣。統領三軍隊。
Warriors, generals;
leaders of the three armies
結陣交鋒。 鑼鼓喧天地。
Crashing chariots, crossing swords,
As drums shook heaven and earth
北戰南征。 失陷沙場內。
Warring north, conquering south
But falling in the sandy fields of battle
為國亡軀 。來受甘露味。
Martyrs for your country
--- come receive the amrit!
leaders of the three armies
結陣交鋒。 鑼鼓喧天地。
Crashing chariots, crossing swords,
As drums shook heaven and earth
北戰南征。 失陷沙場內。
Warring north, conquering south
But falling in the sandy fields of battle
為國亡軀 。來受甘露味。
Martyrs for your country
--- come receive the amrit!
4- 學古窮今，錦繡文章士。
Seekers of old and new
You brocaded scholars and literati
映雪偷光。苦志寒窗內。
Stealing light off snow
Enduring hardship by the cold window
命運蹉跎 。金榜無名字。
Losing out on your fate,
Your name never on the Golden Placard
鬱鬱幽魂， 來受甘露味。
Sad, sad, gloomy souls
--- come receive the amrit!
Seekers of old and new
You brocaded scholars and literati
映雪偷光。苦志寒窗內。
Stealing light off snow
Enduring hardship by the cold window
命運蹉跎 。金榜無名字。
Losing out on your fate,
Your name never on the Golden Placard
鬱鬱幽魂， 來受甘露味。
Sad, sad, gloomy souls
--- come receive the amrit!
5- 割愛辭親。蚤入空門內。
Cutting off love and kindred
You who early entered the Gate of emptiness,
訪道尋師。 只為超生死。
Inquiring of the Dao, Seeking masters;
Just to transcend life and death
暑往寒來。 不覺無常至。
Summers went, winters came;
never awakening to impermanence
返照回光。 來受甘露味。
Return again to the light
-- Come receive the amrit!
Cutting off love and kindred
You who early entered the Gate of emptiness,
訪道尋師。 只為超生死。
Inquiring of the Dao, Seeking masters;
Just to transcend life and death
暑往寒來。 不覺無常至。
Summers went, winters came;
never awakening to impermanence
返照回光。 來受甘露味。
Return again to the light
-- Come receive the amrit!
6- 羽服黃冠。早發修真志
Feather-robed, yellow-capped
You who vowed to cultivate perfection
煉藥燒丹。養性還元氣。
Refining medicine, burning elixir,
Cultivating nature and circulating primal qi
苦行勞神。 指望登仙位。
Laboring your spirits with hardship
Aspiring to be an immortal:
莫戀形魂。來受甘露味。
Souls who long not for forms
- come recieve the amrit!
Feather-robed, yellow-capped
You who vowed to cultivate perfection
煉藥燒丹。養性還元氣。
Refining medicine, burning elixir,
Cultivating nature and circulating primal qi
苦行勞神。 指望登仙位。
Laboring your spirits with hardship
Aspiring to be an immortal:
莫戀形魂。來受甘露味。
Souls who long not for forms
- come recieve the amrit!
7- 孝子賢孫。 義勇忠良志。
Filial children, sage grandsons
Righteous, brave, loyal and steadfast
烈女貞妻。視死如歸去。
Famous women, Chaste wives,
Seeing death as returning home;
仗節亡軀。 千古留英氣。
Martyrs for chastity,
Leaving a heroic spirit for the ages,
耿耿靈魂。來受甘露味。
You Restless souls
- Come and receive the amrit!
8- 女道尼流。身住黃金地 。
Female Daoists; bhikkhunis
Bodies living in golden land
鸞鳳緣空。 不染人間事。
Voiding the affinity of the phoenix,
Not bothering with human affairs
未了無為。 流浪虛生死。
Female Daoists; bhikkhunis
Bodies living in golden land
鸞鳳緣空。 不染人間事。
Voiding the affinity of the phoenix,
Not bothering with human affairs
未了無為。 流浪虛生死。
Not realising the unconditioned,
Wandering aimlessly between life and death
清淨幽魂。 來受甘露味。
Pure, dark souls,
- Come and recieve the amrit!
Wandering aimlessly between life and death
清淨幽魂。 來受甘露味。
Pure, dark souls,
- Come and recieve the amrit!
9- 地理天文 醫藥陰陽類
Geomancers, Astrologers,
Doctors, Yin-yang types;
Geomancers, Astrologers,
Doctors, Yin-yang types;
卜卦占龜 風鑒並星士
Hexagram-casters, turtle-diviners
Physiognomists and Star-men;
報吉談凶 難免無常至
Reporting good and evil fortune
But never escaping impermanence:
舍偽歸真 來受甘露味
Leave the false and return to the true
- come receive the amrit!
Hexagram-casters, turtle-diviners
Physiognomists and Star-men;
報吉談凶 難免無常至
Reporting good and evil fortune
But never escaping impermanence:
舍偽歸真 來受甘露味
Leave the false and return to the true
- come receive the amrit!
10- 坐賈行商 種種經營輩
Merchants and tradesmen,
All those engaged in commerce;
藝術多能 貿易求財利
Talented in many arts,
Trading, always seeking a profit
背井離鄉 死在他方地
Turning your back on hearth and home:
Dying in another place
旅夢悠悠 來受甘露味
Souls wandering sadly in dreams
- come receive the amrit!
Merchants and tradesmen,
All those engaged in commerce;
藝術多能 貿易求財利
Talented in many arts,
Trading, always seeking a profit
背井離鄉 死在他方地
Turning your back on hearth and home:
Dying in another place
旅夢悠悠 來受甘露味
Souls wandering sadly in dreams
- come receive the amrit!
11- 犯法遭刑 牢獄長幽系
Criminals punished by law;
Those forever entangled in prisons
負命謀財 債主冤家類
Creditors and victims
Seeking lives, plotting for profit;
惡疾天災 凍死饑亡輩
Dying from epidemic, disaster,
cold or hunger,
速離黃泉 來受甘露味
Quickly leave the Yellow Springs
- come receive the amrit!
Criminals punished by law;
Those forever entangled in prisons
負命謀財 債主冤家類
Creditors and victims
Seeking lives, plotting for profit;
惡疾天災 凍死饑亡輩
Dying from epidemic, disaster,
cold or hunger,
速離黃泉 來受甘露味
Quickly leave the Yellow Springs
- come receive the amrit!
12- 馬踏車傷 牆壓身形碎
Trampled by horses, crushed by chariots,
Bodies smashed under walls;
鬼撃雷轟 自刎懸樑縊
Struck by ghosts, or by lightning,
slit your throats, hanged yourselves;
水火焚漂 虎咬蛇傷類
Burnt, swept away by water
Eaten by tigers, bit by snakes;
Trampled by horses, crushed by chariots,
Bodies smashed under walls;
鬼撃雷轟 自刎懸樑縊
Struck by ghosts, or by lightning,
slit your throats, hanged yourselves;
水火焚漂 虎咬蛇傷類
Burnt, swept away by water
Eaten by tigers, bit by snakes;
九橫孤魂 來受甘露味
Orphaned souls who died the Nine Sudden deaths
-Come receive the amrit!
Orphaned souls who died the Nine Sudden deaths
-Come receive the amrit!
13- 飲血茹毛 生長蠻夷地
Drinking blood, wearing furs,
Drinking blood, wearing furs,
born in barbarian lands;
負債償勞 婢妾並奴隸
Bonded with debt, labouring away,
Concubines, mistresses, slaves;
喑啞盲聾 殘疾無依怙
Blind, mute, deaf,
deformed, disabled; abandoned by all;
受苦冤魂 來受甘露味
You Suffering, wronged ghosts,
- Come receive the amrit!
負債償勞 婢妾並奴隸
Bonded with debt, labouring away,
Concubines, mistresses, slaves;
喑啞盲聾 殘疾無依怙
Blind, mute, deaf,
deformed, disabled; abandoned by all;
受苦冤魂 來受甘露味
You Suffering, wronged ghosts,
- Come receive the amrit!
14- 忤逆爺娘 怨黷天和地
Rebelling against parents,
Cursed, insulted heaven and earth
謗佛欺僧 毀像焚經偈
Slighted the Buddha, abused monks,
Smashed statues and burnt sutras,
邪見深沉 苦報無邊際
Mired in evil views,
Your bitter retribution endless;
十惡狂魂 來受甘露味
Deranged ghosts of the ten evils
- Come receive the amrit!
Rebelling against parents,
Cursed, insulted heaven and earth
謗佛欺僧 毀像焚經偈
Slighted the Buddha, abused monks,
Smashed statues and burnt sutras,
邪見深沉 苦報無邊際
Mired in evil views,
Your bitter retribution endless;
十惡狂魂 來受甘露味
Deranged ghosts of the ten evils
- Come receive the amrit!
15- 大施門開 薦拔孤魂輩
The gate of offerings opens,
Saving all the orphaned souls,
祖襧先亡 五姓冤家類
Those passed on, ancestors,
of the five surnames; Enemies,
八難三途 平等俱超濟
Enduring 8 sufferings, the 3 lower realms:
All will equally delivered,
仗佛光明 來受甘露味
Relying on the Buddhas' brilliance
- come receive the amrit!
The gate of offerings opens,
Saving all the orphaned souls,
祖襧先亡 五姓冤家類
Those passed on, ancestors,
of the five surnames; Enemies,
八難三途 平等俱超濟
Enduring 8 sufferings, the 3 lower realms:
All will equally delivered,
仗佛光明 來受甘露味
Relying on the Buddhas' brilliance
- come receive the amrit!
16- 阿彌陀佛 宿有無邊誓
Amida Buddha,
With his boundless vows
觀見眾生 苦海常漂溺
Sees the massed beings
Floating in the ocean of suffering
垂手殷勤 特駕慈航濟
He lends a helping hand.
Holding a compassionate vehicle to save
普載眾生 同赴蓮池會
That brings all beings
to the lotus assembly
With his boundless vows
觀見眾生 苦海常漂溺
Sees the massed beings
Floating in the ocean of suffering
垂手殷勤 特駕慈航濟
He lends a helping hand.
Holding a compassionate vehicle to save
普載眾生 同赴蓮池會
That brings all beings
to the lotus assembly
南無蓮池海會佛菩薩
I take refuge in the lotus-pool assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
南無蓮池海會佛菩薩
I take refuge in the lotus-pool assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
南無蓮池海會佛菩薩
I take refuge in the lotus-pool assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
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