An emperor should bring all the lands under heaven beneath his rule.
Some opened up new frontiers and expanded their territory; some stood still and sealed themselves off;
some endured humiliation to survive; some saw their nations perish here.
The common folk sought only to hold on.
But to secure the nation and bring peace to the land was the heart of the world—
one must raise one's eyes and stand tall, gazing proudly over the nine heavens.
One must know: the years leave no trace.
When a song ends, it does not stop at some particular year, month, or day.
Who can say where a thousand autumns and ten thousand years come from?
There is only this: year after year, without end.
Fortify our national defenses and build up our nation;
strengthen our economy and industry; no more sealing ourselves off in this little patch of land;
we must forge ahead, seeking a wider sky;
we must dive deep, seeking broader oceans;
we must delve deeper, seeking a richer cultural heritage;
we must hold back the sands, seeking to reduce desertification,
build oases, and safeguard the shared peace and prosperity of all humanity.
The one thing that must never change: in this life, we must strive without rest;
not for our own prosperity,
but for the nation's welfare;
for this, we cannot be compared with ordinary folk.
Thus, my resolve
is only this,
and nothing more!