Heavenly Questions and Summoning Souls I sing in vain,
No path leads through the imperial gate again.
Who knew a thousand verses of sublime art
Would yield to one slanderous dart?
Original Poem
「离骚」
陆龟蒙
天问复招魂，无因彻帝阍。
岂知千丽句，不敌一谗言。
Interpretation
Written by Lu Guimeng in the late Tang Dynasty. During this period, Tang politics were corrupt, with regional warlords fragmenting the land, eunuchs manipulating power, and fierce factional strife. Upright scholars often faced exclusion, while cunning opportunists rose to prominence. Lu Guimeng, a recluse who styled himself "Heaven's Follower" (天随子 Tiānsuízǐ), declined multiple official summons. Witnessing societal darkness—where the virtuous were suppressed and the wicked empowered—he wrote this poem, using antiquity to critique the present. Though titled "Li Sao" (after Qu Yuan's masterpiece), it is in fact a veiled commentary on contemporary issues. Qu Yuan, loyal and devoted, served King Huai of Chu but fell victim to slander, was exiled south of the Yangtze, and ultimately drowned himself with a stone. Through Qu Yuan's tragedy, Lu expresses his own frustration at unrecognized talent and the injustice of his era.
First Couplet: "天问复招魂，无因彻帝阍。"
Tiān wèn fù zhāohún, wú yīn chè dì hūn.
"Heavenly Questions" and again "Summoning the Soul"—
No way to reach through the palace gates.
This couplet highlights Qu Yuan’s plight: despite masterpieces like "Heavenly Questions" (天问 Tiānwèn) and "Summoning the Soul" (招魂 Zhāohún), the foolish King Huai ignored loyal counsel. Lu alludes to the contemporary court, where rulers were deceived by powerful schemers, and wise words could not penetrate the imperial hearing.
Second Couplet: "岂知千丽句，不敌一谗言。"
Qǐ zhī qiān lì jù, bù dí yī chányán.
Who could have known a thousand exquisite lines
Cannot rival one slanderous word?
This couplet speaks directly from the heart. Qu Yuan’s poetry is celebrated through the ages, his loyalty unwavering, yet it was overpowered by a single calumny from influential ministers. Lu laments that across time, though writing and righteousness may endure, in realpolitik, they often fall before the instant force of slander—leaving loyal talent vulnerable.
Holistic Appreciation
Though a mere twenty-character pentasyllabic quatrain, this poem is profound and incisive. The first couplet introduces Qu Yuan’s works "Heavenly Questions" and "Summoning the Soul," setting the theme and paving the way for what follows. The second couplet contrasts literary and political power, underscoring the irony: eternally revered verses prove less influential than a whispered slander in swaying a ruler’s ear, leading to the injustice against the loyal and the peril of the state.
On the surface, the poem laments Qu Yuan, but it truly conveys Lu Guimeng’s anger at his own situation and the politics of his time. Though living in reclusion, he cared deeply for his country and people. Seeing the virtuous rejected and the wicked empowered, his pent-up frustration found voice in this poem.
The style is concise and bold, speaking without reservation. In just four lines, it tightly links Qu Yuan’s tragedy with the darkness of late Tang politics, expressing sympathy for Qu Yuan and serving as an indictment of reality.
Artistic Merits
- Using antiquity to critique the present, with profound implications: Lu’s "Li Sao" is not mere history; it reflects late Tang politics through Qu Yuan’s experience. By referencing Qu’s masterpieces, he implies that even timeless writings could not awaken a foolish king. This technique adds historical depth and sharpens contemporary critique, resonating powerfully.
- Austere and refined language: Twenty characters encapsulate Qu Yuan’s life, literary brilliance, and the harm of slander. Without lengthy discourse, the poem conveys eternal tragedy with extreme concision—a classic example of late Tang’s "brevity commanding depth."
- Vivid contrast, piercing satire: "A thousand exquisite lines" versus "one slanderous word" creates extreme juxtaposition—countless eloquent verses against a single malicious remark. The numerical disparity and ironic outcome highlight the absurdity of loyalty suppressed and slander empowered, intensifying satire and social criticism.
- Intense emotion, direct expression: Unlike the oblique style of some late Tang poets, Lu here speaks almost bluntly. The poem’s indignation, desolation, and helplessness burst through concise, forceful lines, revealing deep sympathy for Qu Yuan, identification with his own unrecognized talent, and profound discontent with the political reality.
- Continuing the spirit of Chuci, embodying personal aspiration: Titling the poem "Li Sao" echoes Qu Yuan’s spiritual tradition. Just as Qu expressed his devotion through poetry, his spirit enduring beyond death, Lu, though not in office, voices his care for the world through verse. By channeling Qu Yuan’s will, he conveys a stance of "unchanged loyalty despite adversity."
Insights
Through the allegory of Qu Yuan, this poem exposes the historical pattern of "the virtuous rejected, the petty empowered," prompting reflection on the relationship between power and truth. In autocratic, human-driven environments, slander often determines the fate of the worthy—a tragedy transcending time. For modern readers, this poem urges us to cherish genuine insight, not be swayed by rumors; it also reminds us that countless Qu Yuan-like figures, though thwarted in their time, have won the testimony of history through their words and spirit.
About the poet
Lu Guimeng (陆龟蒙 ？– c. 881 CE), a native of Suzhou, Jiangsu, was a Late Tang dynasty writer and agronomist. After failing the imperial examinations, he retreated to a reclusive life in Puli, Songjiang. He formed a famous literary partnership with the poet Pi Rixiu, and the pair are often referred to collectively as "Pi-Lu." His poetry is known for its social satire and a style that is incisive yet subtly restrained. His inclusion in the Biographies of Talents of the Tangunderscores his significance. The modern writer Lu Xun famously praised his essays, noting that they provided "a sharp radiance piercing through a world of muddle". Lu Guimeng is regarded as a uniquely distinctive voice in the literary scene of the late Tang.
