Down the blue mountain in the evening,
Moonl ight was my homeward escort .
Look ing back, I saw my path
Lie in levels of deep shadow...
I was passing the farm-house of a friend,
When his children called from a gate of thorn
And led me twining through j ade bamboos
Where green vines caught and held my clothes.
And I was glad of a chance to rest
And glad of a chance to drink with my friend.
We sang to the tune of the wind in the pines ;
And we finished our songs as the stars went down,
When, I being drunk and my friend more than happy,
Between us we forgot the world.
Original Poem
「下终南山过斛斯山人宿置酒」
李白
暮从碧山下，山月随人归。
却顾所来径，苍苍横翠微。
相携及田家，童稚开荆扉。
绿竹入幽径，青萝拂行衣。
欢言得所憩，美酒聊共挥。
长歌吟松风，曲尽河星稀。
我醉君复乐，陶然共忘机。
Interpretation
This poem was composed around 754 AD during Li Bai's service as an academician in Chang'an. Though serving in court, he yearned for freedom and often sought solace in nature to relieve his inner turmoil. The poem depicts the poet's moonlit visit to the recluse Hu Si on Zhongnan Mountain, presenting joyful scenes of immersing in landscapes, drinking freely and singing heartily, expressing his longing for reclusive life and indifferent attitude toward worldly fame.
First Couplet: "暮从碧山下，山月随人归。"
mù cóng bì shān xià, shān yuè suí rén guī.
At dusk, I descend from the emerald mountain; The moon follows me home.
The poet describes his evening walk through the mountains, personifying the moon as a companion, enhancing the tranquil beauty of the moonlit journey.
Second Couplet: "却顾所来径，苍苍横翠微。"
què gù suǒ lái jìng, cāng cāng héng cuì wēi.
Turning back to gaze at the path I came, The verdant peaks stretch vast under twilight haze.
The poet looks back at his mountain path, where distant peaks now lie shrouded in evening mist, creating a scene of profound serenity that hints at his attachment to this secluded world.
Third Couplet: "相携及田家，童稚开荆扉。"
xiāng xié jí tián jiā, tóng zhì kāi jīng fēi.
Hand in hand we reach the rustic home; A child greets us, opening the wicker gate.
This warm domestic scene, with a child welcoming visitors, embodies the simple joys and genuine hospitality of country life that the poet finds so appealing.
Fourth Couplet: "绿竹入幽径，青萝拂行衣。"
lǜ zhú rù yōu jìng, qīng luó fú xíng yī.
Green bamboos line the secluded path; Ivy tendrils brush against my robe.
Through delicate natural imagery, the poet creates an atmosphere of quiet refinement, where every plant seems to participate in welcoming the wanderer to this peaceful retreat.
Fifth Couplet: "欢言得所憩，美酒聊共挥。"
huān yán dé suǒ qì, měi jiǔ liáo gòng huī.
In cheerful talk we find our rest; Together we raise cups of fine wine.
The shared wine and conversation represent the perfect communion between kindred spirits, where worldly cares dissolve in mutual understanding and good fellowship.
Sixth Couplet: "长歌吟松风，曲尽河星稀。"
cháng gē yín sōng fēng, qǔ jìn hé xīng xī.
Singing aloud to the wind through pines; The song ends as stars fade in the river of heaven.
The poet's unrestrained singing merges with the natural world, continuing until the stars begin to fade at dawn, showing complete harmony between human expression and nature's rhythms.
Seventh Couplet: "我醉君复乐，陶然共忘机。"
wǒ zuì jūn fù lè, táo rán gòng wàng jī.
I grow drunk, you laugh in delight; Together, we forget life's cunning strife.
This final couplet captures the poem's essence - the joyful abandonment of social pretenses and calculated behavior ("forgetting schemes") that comes with true friendship and wine-inspired candor.
Overall Appreciation
The poem traces the poet's journey through night mountain wandering, visiting a hermit, drinking at a cottage, and singing heartily. With fresh natural strokes, he depicts emerald mountains, bright moon, country homes and bamboo paths, creating a reclusive atmosphere detached from worldly affairs. Beyond his love for landscapes, the poem reveals his cherished friendship. His unrestrained singing and drinking lead to the state of "forgetting schemes," showing his indifference to worldly fame and yearning for freedom.
Stylistic Features
- Blended scenes and emotions with profound imagery:
The poet integrates scenery with personal feelings, creating both visual and emotional impact, showcasing Li Bai's natural, unrestrained style. - Fresh, fluent language with musical beauty:
The rhythmic verses like "Green bamboos line secluded paths; Verdant vines brush my traveling robe" present beautiful scenery while enhancing poetic cadence. - Union of reclusive spirit and unrestrained revelry:
Through pastoral life, the poet projects life ideals, combining reclusive tranquility with drinking abandon, embodying Li Bai's characteristic boldness.
Insights
The poem reveals the poet's longing for reclusion and pursuit of freedom. Enchanted by mountain beauty, he finds solace in time with friends. This transcendental outlook reminds us: Amid life's bustle, occasionally letting go of fame and gain to drink with friends and commune with nature constitutes life's wisdom.
Poem translator
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet
Li Bai (李白), 701 - 762 A.D., whose ancestral home was in Gansu, was preceded by Li Guang, a general of the Han Dynasty. Tang poetry is one of the brightest constellations in the history of Chinese literature, and one of the brightest stars is Li Bai.
