In a happy reign there should be no hermits;
The wise and able should consult together…
So you, a man of the eastern mountains,
Gave up your life of picking herbs
And came all the way to the Gate of Gold --
But you found your devotion unavailing.
…To spend the Day of No Fire on one of the southern rivers,
You have mended your spring clothes here in these northern cities.
I pour you the farewell wine as you set out from the capital --
Soon I shall be left behind here by my bosomfriend.
In your sail-boat of sweet cinnamon-wood
You will float again toward your own thatch door,
Led along by distant trees
To a sunset shining on a far-away town.
…What though your purpose happened to fail,
Doubt not that some of us can hear high music.
Original Poem:
「送綦毋潜落第还乡」
王维
圣代无隐者， 英灵尽来归。
遂令东山客， 不得顾采薇。
既至金门远， 孰云吾道非。
江淮度寒食， 京洛缝春衣。
置酒长安道， 同心与我违。
行当浮桂棹， 未几拂荆扉。
远树带行客， 孤城当落晖。
吾谋适不用， 勿谓知音稀。
Interpretation:
This poem comforts friends who have fallen from grace.
The poet’s deep affection for his friends is clearly shown. Those wise men have abandoned the road and descended to the mountains in order to serve the country. On the one hand, these two lines reflect the social environment of the Tang Dynasty, which was politically clear and strong; on the other hand, they reflect the general state of mind of the literati during this period.
In the third and fourth lines, the phrases “the guest in the east mountain” and “Gu Caiwei” are borrowed from the allusion to Xie An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, who used to hide in the east mountain, and Boyi and Shuqi, who used to pick meadows in the west mountain, which not only praises QI Buqian’s high and pure qualities and profound knowledge, but also highlights his eagerness to build up a successful career in politics. However, Qibu Qian went to Beijing to take the examination with confidence, but he failed.
The fifth to the eighth lines are about the poet repeatedly consoling his friend. Failure to achieve success in the examination is not because we do not have knowledge and talent. It is full of understanding and sympathy for his friend. Wang Wei thought that his friend had been away from home for more than a year in order to take this examination, and he had gone through a lot of hardships, but he failed to return home, and he was very sad for the sake of his friend.
It is only in the last eight lines of the poem that the theme of farewell begins to emerge. The last eight lines of the poem begin to emphasize the theme of sending off. With the word “违”, how many feelings of separation and sadness are in it. In the midst of sadness, Wang Wei still did not forget to comfort his friend, “I will float on Guizhao when I am traveling, but I will not brush the thorns”, so don’t be too sad, I will come to see you on a boat soon.
At the time of sending off, when you look around, the trees in the distant mountains gradually cover your figure, and the setting sun covers the lonely city. Here, the poet uses the four scenes of “distant trees”, “travelers”, “lonely city”, and “setting sun” together to create The four scenes of “distant trees”, “travelers”, “lonely city”, and “setting sun” together create a picture of a vast desert that makes people feel lonely. At the time of parting, the poet still did not forget to urge his friend once again, do not because of a momentary disillusionment, then think that the world has no soulmate and depressed.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Wang Wei (王维), 701-761 A.D., was a native of Yuncheng, Shanxi Province. Wang Wei was a poet of landscape and idylls. His poems of landscape and idylls, with far-reaching images and mysterious meanings, were widely loved by readers in later generations, but Wang Wei never really became a man of landscape and idylls.
