He digs up jade, he digs up jade in water green
To make a headdress for a lady or a queen.
When he's hungry and cold, the dragon would be sad;
Nor clear nor pure, the water of Blue Creek turns bad.
He eats hazelnuts when it rains in mountains deep;
With tears like the blood shed by the cuckoo, he'd weep.
The Blue Creek dislikes a digger when he appears;
He too dislikes it though dead for a thousand years.
By the mountainside the wind soughs and the rain falls;
A rope hangs around his waist over waterfalls.
How can he not think of his children in his hut cold,
When he sees the forget-me-not on the cliff old?
Original Poem:
「老夫采玉歌」
李贺
采玉采玉须水碧，琢作步摇徒好色。
老夫饥寒龙为愁，蓝溪水气无清白。
夜雨冈头食蓁子，杜鹃口血老夫泪。
蓝溪之水厌生人，身死千年恨溪水。
斜山柏风雨如啸，泉脚挂绳青袅袅。
村寒白屋念娇婴，古台石磴悬肠草。
Interpretation:
"Song of an Old Jade-digger" is a poem by Li He that portrays the hardships of laborers in the Blue Creek area, known for its jade mines. While the process of mining jade is fraught with danger, the workers' efforts are often in vain, as they face life-threatening risks. Through this poem, the poet expresses sympathy for the suffering of the common people and critiques the social injustices of the time.
First Couplet: “采玉采玉须水碧，琢作步摇徒好色。”
(To mine jade, one must have clear water, and the jade is carved into ornaments for noble women, adding only superficial beauty.)
These lines describe the arduous process of mining jade, reflecting the workers' labor and the futility of their toil. "采玉须水碧" highlights the difficulty of jade mining, relying on clean water sources, while "琢作步摇徒好色" reveals the fruitless nature of the work—carving jade into ornaments that merely increase vanity. The use of "徒" criticizes the pointlessness of the labor, expressing both sympathy for the workers and satire of the luxurious lifestyles of the elite.
Second Couplet: “老夫饥寒龙为愁，蓝溪水气无清白。”
(The old man endures hunger and cold, even the dragon in Blue Creek is troubled, and the water turns turbid.)
These lines depict the old man’s suffering, highlighting the harshness of jade mining. The hardships of hunger and cold are mirrored in the environment, with "龙为愁" symbolizing that even mythical creatures are disturbed by the dire conditions. "水气无清白" shows how the once-pure waters of Blue Creek become tainted, reflecting the widespread despair.
Third Couplet: “夜雨冈头食蓁子，杜鹃口血老夫泪。”
(In the night rain, on the hill, he eats hazelnuts to stave off hunger, while the blood of the cuckoo mingles with the old man’s tears.)
This couplet intensifies the old man’s misery in the rainy night, portraying his struggle to survive. The image of eating hazelnuts reflects his poverty, and the "杜鹃口血老夫泪" metaphorically connects the cuckoo's blood to the old man's tears, emphasizing the sorrow and anguish he feels.
Fourth Couplet: “蓝溪之水厌生人，身死千年恨溪水。”
(The water of Blue Creek despises the living, and even after death, a thousand years later, it still harbors hatred for the creek’s waters.)
These lines express the old man’s deep resentment for the creek, symbolizing the fatal consequences of the jade mining labor. The idea that even death cannot quell the hatred towards the creek illustrates the fatalistic environment in which the laborers live. It conveys a profound sense of injustice and anger toward the natural and social conditions.
Fifth Couplet: “斜山柏风雨如啸，泉脚挂绳青袅袅。”
(The cypress trees on the sloping mountain howl in the wind and rain, while the ropes by the spring sway in the mist.)
This couplet captures the dangerous and eerie atmosphere of the mining environment. The howling of the cypress trees in the storm and the swaying ropes near the spring evoke a sense of danger and tension, symbolizing the workers' precarious existence in the face of nature’s fury.
Sixth Couplet: “村寒白屋念娇婴，古台石磴悬肠草。”
(In the cold village, a white house yearns for a delicate child, while the ancient steps are tangled with sorrowful vines.)
This couplet uses imagery of the cold village and ancient stone steps to convey the old man’s longing for his family. The "悬肠草" symbolizes his emotional ties, particularly to his children, as he faces the hardships of his labor. This evokes a deep sense of familial love, even amidst death and suffering.
Writing Style:
In The Old Man Collecting Jade, Li He employs a romantic and exaggerated style, using vivid metaphors and symbolism to enhance the emotional depth and meaning of the poem. By incorporating mythical elements like the troubled dragon and the blood of the cuckoo, the poet adds a layer of mystique and drama, amplifying the critique of reality. His fine depiction of natural scenes not only highlights the plight of the workers but also infuses the poem with a romantic yet melancholic atmosphere.
Overall Analysis:
This poem, centered on the hard labor of jade miners, uses detailed descriptions and rich symbolism to expose social injustice and class exploitation. Li He highlights the extreme suffering of the old man and his companions through exaggerated techniques like the troubled dragon and the blood of the cuckoo. The poet imparts emotional depth by attributing human qualities to natural elements, like the storm and the creek, which enhance the poem’s vividness. The overall tone is filled with both a critical realism and a romantic imagination, making the poem both a social critique and an emotional expression.
Insights:
The Old Man Collecting Jade vividly exposes the social inequalities of the time, urging us to pay attention to the struggles and hardships of laborers. The "hatred of the creek" is not only a grievance against the harsh environment but also a metaphor for the oppression of the laboring class. Through this poem, Li He expresses his deep sympathy for the suffering of the workers while also critiquing the neglect and exploitation they endure. The balance between emotional intensity and artistic expression leaves a lasting impression, urging reflection on the exploitation inherent in social structures.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
About the poet:
Li He (李贺), circa 790 - 817, was a native of Luoyang, Henan Province, and a Romantic poet of the Middle Tang Dynasty.
