Huating Pavilion gleams in morning's fresh rain-washed air,
Your mast vanishes where distant clouds drift without care.
Do not wonder why the stream's depth shifts near the hill—
The Huai's clear waters rise and fall twice daily still.
Original Poem
「送别」
刘方平
华亭霁色满今朝，云里樯竿去转遥。
莫怪山前深复浅，清淮一日两回潮。
Interpretation
This poem was written around the second year of the Qianyuan era (759 AD) during the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang. The An Lushan Rebellion remained unresolved, and the Tang Dynasty—transitioning from prosperity to decline—was plagued by frequent warfare and widespread suffering. Living in this historical context, Liu Fangping experienced an unsuccessful official career, often traveling as a commoner and engaging with literary circles while enjoying the landscapes of Jianghuai. "Farewell" emerged from this backdrop of turmoil, where separations among friends and family became commonplace. Composed while seeing off a friend near the Huai River, the poem uses scenery to convey emotion, expressing the sorrow of parting among scholars in a disordered era and their well-wishes for the journey ahead.
First Couplet: "华亭霁色满今朝，云里樯竿去转遥。"
Huátíng jìsè mǎn jīnzhāo, yún lǐ qiánggān qù zhuǎn yáo.
Huating’s clearing skies fill the morning;
Amid the clouds, the mast turns distant and fades.
The opening lines depict the farewell atmosphere with bright scenery. Huating, in present-day Wuxian, Jiangsu, was a famous scenic spot in the south. The poet uses "clearing skies" (霁色 jìsè) to portray a radiant morning, setting the parting scene under a clear sky. However, the image of the mast gradually disappearing "amid the clouds" (云里 yún lǐ) subtly reveals the sorrow of separation. The beauty of the scene contrasts with the grief within, intensifying the emotional effect.
Second Couplet: "莫怪山前深复浅，清淮一日两回潮。"
Mò guài shān qián shēn fù qiǎn, Qīng Huái yī rì liǎng huí cháo.
Do not wonder that the mountains appear now near, now far—
The clear Huai River ebbs and flows twice each day.
The latter couplet shifts from scene to metaphor, blending realistic description with philosophical insight. The tidal ebbs and flows of the river, occurring twice daily, symbolize life’s ups and downs and the unpredictability of human affairs, also hinting at the challenges the friend may face on the journey. Yet the poet does not dwell on sadness; instead, he uses the "tide" (潮 cháo) to suggest that life, despite its fluctuations, follows its own natural order, expressing encouragement and hope for the friend’s future.
Holistic Appreciation
Though only twenty-eight characters, "Farewell" is rich in layers. The first couplet describes Huating’s clearing skies and the distant sailing boat, creating a broad and bright picture, yet the word "distant" (转遥 zhuǎn yáo) carries boundless regret. The second couplet draws meaning from mountains and tides, conveying life’s philosophy and offering the friend encouragement and solace. The poem expresses emotion through scenery, implies depth without direct lament, and reflects life’s journey through natural imagery, displaying a subtle and lofty tone. It embodies the freshness and elegance of Tang farewell poetry while carrying philosophical contemplation, making it one of Liu Fangping’s enduring works.
Artistic Merits
- Emotion within scenery, blending tangible and intangible: The poet begins with Huating’s clearing skies and the cloud-veiled mast, embedding parting emotion into the landscape, achieving subtlety and lasting resonance without explicit expression.
- Nature conveying truth, profound and implicit: Using the tide to symbolize life’s vicissitudes reflects the unpredictability of human affairs, demonstrating the technique of revealing greatness in smallness.
- Concise language, rich meaning: In just four lines, the poem depicts the farewell scene, conveys encouragement, and contemplates life’s philosophy, showcasing the poet’s masterful command of language.
- Tone blending sorrow and strength: There is the sadness of parting, but also broad-mindedness and philosophical optimism, avoiding one-dimensional grief.
Insights
This work reminds us that parting and reunion are constants in life’s journey. Facing the unpredictability of worldly affairs, we should embrace it with an open heart, much like the Huai River’s tides—ebbing and flowing yet following their natural rhythm. Through scenic description, the poet conveys deep emotion, telling us that although parting is difficult, friendship endures; though life is unpredictable, one’s mindset can remain broad. This poem continues to inspire people to adopt a positive and inclusive attitude toward life’s separations and encounters.
About the Poet
Liu Fangping (刘方平 c. 742 – c. 785), a native of Luoyang in Henan. A recluse-poet and painter spanning the High to Mid-Tang period, he distinguished himself with a delicate and subtle poetic style skilled in depicting boudoir lament and moonlit nights. Though only 26 of his poems survive in the Complete Tang Poems, works like Moonlit Night and Spring Lament secured his place in the canonical hall of Tang poetry. Hailed as "the pure voice of the High Tang and the herald of the Mid-Tang," his poetry fused the lucidity of the Qi-Liang style with Zen serenity, profoundly influencing the later ci lyric tradition and Heian-era Japanese women's literature.
