To the Capital you go, where the high tombs stand;
My sword is worth a thousand gold, as you understand.
At parting, I ungird it, and give it to you here —
With it, I give the only heart I’ve owned for many a year.
Original Poem
「送朱大入秦」
孟浩然
游人五陵去，宝剑值千金。
分手脱相赠，平生一片心。
Interpretation
This work is a renowned piece among Meng Haoran's farewell poems, composed during the High Tang period. It vividly exemplifies the chivalrous spirit of "honoring one's word above a thousand pieces of gold" and the profound camaraderie characteristic of the literati interactions of that era. While the historical details of "Zhu the Great" remain obscure, traveling "into Qin" (towards the Chang'an region) typically related to seeking office, scholarly travel, or assuming a post, reflecting the period's ethos where intellectuals actively pursued public service and formed friendships across the land.
The act of gifting a sword held particular cultural significance in the Tang Dynasty. A sword was not merely a weapon for defense but an adornment of the gentleman, symbolizing integrity, lofty ambition, and trust. By presenting his sword, Meng Haoran demonstrates his high esteem and expectations for his friend, embodying a mode of interaction among scholars that valued shared ideals and trust over material wealth. The poem's language is exceptionally concise yet its spirit noble; the emotion is ardent yet expressed with restraint. Within a mere twenty characters, it fully captures the generous and forthright essence characteristic of High Tang farewell poetry.
First Couplet: "游人五陵去，宝剑值千金。"
Yóu rén Wǔlíng qù, bǎo jiàn zhí qiān jīn.
My friend, you go to where the five tombs stand; / My precious sword is worth a fortune in hand.
"Wu Ling" (five tombs) refers to the area near Chang'an containing five Han Dynasty imperial mausoleums, a district associated with nobility and privilege in the Tang, hinting that the friend's journey is toward the political and cultural heartland, a place of high aspiration. "My precious sword is worth a fortune" is not mere hyperbole about its material worth; it uses the object to symbolize sentiment, indicating that in the poet's heart, this friendship is as precious and rare as the sword itself. The couplet begins with a plain statement, yet it masterfully builds anticipation for the deeply significant act of giving that follows.
Second Couplet: "分手脱相赠，平生一片心。"
Fēnshǒu tuō xiāng zèng, píngshēng yī piàn xīn.
At parting, I ungird it, a gift for you; / It bears the lifelong feelings that are true.
The word "ungird" is especially vivid—it is an action that conveys a state of mind: resolute and without hesitation. "A gift for you": in this moment, the sword is transformed; it becomes the tangible embodiment of affection, a token of commitment. "The lifelong feelings that are true" concludes with a simplicity that resonates with depth. The focus shifts entirely from the valuable object ("fortune") to the sincere heart ("feelings"), highlighting a spiritual offering that transcends the material.
Holistic Appreciation
Centered on the gift of the sword, the poem constructs a lyrical structure that progresses in layers: from the object, to the act, and finally to the underlying sentiment. The first two lines, describing the sword's value and the journey's destination, serve as preparation. The last two lines, describing the decisive act of giving and the genuineness of the heart, represent a culminating elevation. The poet does not depict a desolate farewell scene nor express longing for the future. Instead, he focuses intensely on the resoluteness and sincerity of the single moment of giving the sword, using this to concentrate the poem's entire emotional force.
Beyond Meng Haoran's better-known landscape and pastoral poetry, this piece reveals another facet of his character: bold, generous, and deeply committed to friendship. Unlike the often lingering sorrow of typical farewell poems, this work possesses a vigorous spirit—terse in words yet rich in feeling, with a classical simplicity. The act of gifting the sword serves a dual purpose: it is both encouragement and symbolic companionship for the departing friend, and a projection of the poet's own heart and will—as the sword travels with the man, so too does the poet's spirit.
Artistic Features
- Focused Imagery, Emotion Conveyed Through Object: The entire poem centers tightly on the core image of the "precious sword." Its great worth and the sincere act of bestowing it convey, indirectly yet powerfully, the depth of the bond.
- Decisive Diction, Brisk Rhythm: The four lines flow with the clean, efficient motion of presenting the sword. The structure is compact and without superfluity, its formal brevity mirroring the decisive, generous nature of the act itself.
- Understated Closure with Profound Resonance: "The lifelong feelings that are true" seems deceptively simple, almost conversational. Yet, framed by the preceding declaration of the sword's great value, it carries immense weight, achieving the artistic effect of "plain words infused with deep feeling."
- Vigorous Spirit, High Tang Ethos: The poem's generous and bold character differs markedly from the plaintive tone common in many farewell poems. It embodies the confident, aspiring, and honor-valuing spirit emblematic of the High Tang era.
Insights
This poem remains resonant because it reveals a simple yet profound principle in expressing human connection: sincerity surpasses ceremony, and heartfelt intention outweighs material value. What Meng Haoran gave was not merely a sword, but the "lifelong feelings" of his heart. In an age where gifts are often laden with extrinsic meaning, this poem reminds us that true giving is the entrusting of one's sincere intent, a meeting of spirits.
It also invites reflection on the essence of friendship. Its core lies not merely in daily companionship, but in the understanding and support offered at life's pivotal junctures. The poet, gifting his sword as his friend departs for Qin, offers courage and faith, symbolically accompanying him towards a wider world. Such sentiment, transcending its time, endures as an ideal of noble friendship: forthright, sincere, and rich in spiritual strength.
About the poet
Meng Haoran (孟浩然), 689 - 740 AD, a native of Xiangyang, Hubei, was a famous poet of the Sheng Tang Dynasty. With the exception of one trip to the north when he was in his forties, when he was seeking fame in Chang'an and Luoyang, he spent most of his life in seclusion in his hometown of Lumenshan or roaming around.
