Written in a Village South of the Capital by Cui Hu

In this house on this day last year a pink face vied
In beauty with the pink peach blossom side by side.
I do not know today where the pink face has gone;
In vernal breeze still smile pink peach blossoms full blown.

Original Poem:

「题都城南庄」
去年今日此门中，人面桃花相映红。
人面不知何处去，桃花依旧笑春风。

崔护

Interpretation:

This poem, written by Tang Dynasty poet Cui Hu, lacks a precise date of creation but is said to have been composed after the poet failed the imperial examination and wandered in the southern suburbs of Chang’an. Through recollection and contrast, the poem depicts a harmonious scene of human presence and nature, expressing the poet's lament and melancholy over the passing of beauty and time.

First Couplet:“去年今日此门中，人面桃花相映红。”
(On this day last year, within this very doorway, a beautiful face glowed as red as the peach blossoms beside it.)
The opening lines evoke memories of the past, with "last year, on this day" highlighting a specific and vivid recollection. The comparison between the woman's face and the peach blossoms emphasizes her beauty and creates a vibrant and picturesque scene etched deeply in the poet's mind.

Second Couplet:“人面不知何处去，桃花依旧笑春风。”
(Now, revisiting the same place, that beautiful face is gone, while the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.)
This couplet shifts to the present, contrasting past and present. The absence of the “beautiful face” juxtaposed with the enduring peach blossoms reflects a poignant sense of impermanence. The constancy of nature highlights the fleeting nature of human connections, amplifying the poet’s loneliness and regret.

Literary Features:

1. Fusion of Emotion and Scene
   The poem intertwines the "beautiful face" and "peach blossoms" to create a vivid image that mirrors the poet's feelings. By juxtaposing natural beauty with the absence of the person, the poem deepens the sense of sorrow and nostalgia.
2. Use of Contrast
   The poet contrasts "last year" and "this year," as well as the "absence of the person" with the "presence of the blossoms," to underscore the transience of human encounters versus the enduring beauty of nature. This contrast intensifies the emotional impact.
3. Concise Language
   The poem is succinct yet rich in meaning, using only 20 characters to convey a vivid scene and profound emotions. Its brevity enhances its power and allows readers to linger on its implications.
4. Strong Visual Imagery
   The interplay between the peach blossoms and the woman's face, as well as the spring breeze and blooming flowers, creates a vivid tableau. This imagery invites readers to immerse themselves in the scene and feel the poet's sentiments deeply.

Overall Appreciation:

"Inscription on the Southern Village of the Capital" uses the dual imagery of the "beautiful face" and "peach blossoms" to express the poet’s longing for the past and the emptiness of the present. The timeline shifts from "last year" to "this year," reflecting the inevitability of change and the sadness of separation. The poem’s delicate emotions and profound imagery make it a masterpiece of brevity and depth, conveying both personal nostalgia and universal reflections on impermanence.

Insights:

This poem teaches us to cherish the beauty of the present and the moments of connection we experience, as time will inevitably bring change and separation. It also invites us to contemplate how to find meaning and acceptance in life’s transience, discovering the poetry and significance within the passage of time.

Poem translator:

Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)

About the Poet:

Cui Gu (崔护), 772 - 846 A.D., was a poet of the Tang Dynasty, a native of Dingzhou, Hebei Province. His poems are refined and elegant, and his language is extremely fresh.