孫肇瑞《觀放白鷹》“Watching the Release of a White Eagle” by Son Joseo (fl. 15th century)

霜鶻聳天高，

群禽盡豎毛。

飜身捕鵠處，

血灑染飄毫。

As the frosty falcon soars high up into the sky,

All fowls have their feathers standing erect.

Where it turns to seize a swan,

Blood is shed, staining the down in the air.

* From Son Joseo / Sun Zhaorui 孫肇瑞, Gezhai xiansheng wenji 格齋先生文集, 2.10a.

Detail of "Sunji tu" 隼擊圖 (Falcon attack), anonymous artist from the Song dynasty (960-1279)

Image credit: National Palace Museum, Taipei

CC BY 4.0 @ www.npm.gov.tw

A mock attack in the falcon performance at the Château des Milandes