O southern path! Where spring winds gently blow at break of day,
The eastern neighbor gleams in dawn's first ray.
A lone flower blooms in Chu's ancient sphere,
Twin swallows dwell in Lu's mansion, far and near.
She rises, coils her hair like clouds above,
And steps into the broidered car, with love.
Who could have known the belle of yesterday,
Now washes silk by Yue's stream, in humble sway?
Original Poem
「新春」
刘方平
南陌春风早，东邻曙色斜。
一花开楚国，双燕入卢家。
眠罢梳云髻，妆成上锦车。
谁知如昔日，更浣越溪纱。
Interpretation
This poem by Tang Dynasty poet Liu Fangping captures the atmosphere of early spring. Liu, who achieved little success in his official career, often took natural scenery, seasonal changes, and the daily lives of women as his subjects, creating many vivid short poems. This piece is set during the New Year season, depicting a woman’s everyday activities to convey the fresh ambiance of spring's arrival and the delicate details of life in the women’s quarters. Blending scenery, character, and emotion, it reflects both the style of Tang urban and romantic poetry and conveys a sense of life’s continuity amid the passage of time.**
First Couplet: "南陌春风早，东邻曙色斜。"
Nán mò chūnfēng zǎo, dōng lín shǔ sè xié.
On southern paths, the spring breeze arrives early;
At eastern neighbors, dawn’s glow slants across.
This couplet paints a scene of a spring morning, indicating the time and climate. The early spring breeze carries the breath of budding life; the slanting dawn light outlines the tranquility of daybreak. The bright and fresh atmosphere sets the tone for the life scenes that follow.
Second Couplet: "一花开楚国，双燕入卢家。"
Yī huā kāi Chǔ guó, shuāng yàn rù Lú jiā.
A single flower blooms in the land of Chu;
A pair of swallows enters the house of Lu.
Flowers and swallows—classic images of spring—symbolize vitality and reunion. The mention of "Chu" and the "house of Lu" adds a regional and elegant flavor, hinting at the prosperous and lively spirit of spring.
Third Couplet: "眠罢梳云髻，妆成上锦车。"
Mián bà shū yún jì, zhuāng chéng shàng jǐn chē.
After sleep, she combs her cloud-like chignon;
Makeup done, she ascends a brocade-covered carriage.
The focus shifts to the woman’s daily routine. Her graceful movements and affluent lifestyle are vividly conveyed. "Cloud-like chignon" and "brocade-covered carriage" highlight the luxurious and refined aesthetic of the Tang Dynasty, reflecting the festive mood of the New Year season.
Fourth Couplet: "谁知如昔日，更浣越溪纱。"
Shéi zhī rú xīrì, gèng huàn Yuè xī shā.
Who would have thought, as in days of old,
She still washes gauze by the Yue Stream?
The final couplet contrasts the elegant life with daily labor. The juxtaposition of the ornate carriage and cloud chignon with the task of washing gauze highlights the dual aspects of the woman’s life, while also implying the unchanging continuity of life over time. The mention of "Yue Stream gauze" adds a classical and subtle touch, extending the poetic resonance.
Holistic Appreciation
This poem depicts the scenery and life of spring’s arrival. The first two couplets, through the spring breeze, dawn light, blooming flowers, and returning swallows, create an atmosphere full of vitality; the latter two couplets turn to the woman’s grooming and travel, then settle into the daily routine of washing gauze, completing a layered progression from scene to character, from elegance to simplicity.
The language is fresh and flowing, with meticulous detail. The poet not only captures the brightness of a spring morning but also portrays a hardworking woman rich with life气息 (qìxī, vitality)—elegant yet grounded. This unity of beauty and labor reflects the clear, graceful, and down-to-earth quality often found in Liu Fangping’s poetry.
Artistic Merits
- Scene and character blended: The spring morning scene introduces the woman’s life, seamlessly integrating environment and character.
- Layered progression: From spring breeze and dawn light, to flowers and swallows, then to grooming and travel, finally ending with washing gauze—the structure is compact and natural.
- Classical allusions for embellishment: "Chu," "house of Lu," and "Yue Stream gauze" add cultural elegance, enhancing the poetic quality of the life scene.
- Use of contrast: The luxurious "cloud chignon" and "brocade carriage" are set against the simple task of "washing gauze," highlighting life’s multiple dimensions.
- Fresh and subtle language: Simple and natural wording carries a rich sense of daily life, resulting in a style that is bright yet refined.
Insights
This is not merely a poem about spring scenery and a woman’s life—it conveys the philosophy of life’s constancy amid the turning seasons. Though the woman has a brocade carriage and elegant chignon, she remains close to labor; though the spring breeze, flowers, and swallows are beautiful, they ultimately return to daily routine. This reminds us: while beautiful seasons are worth appreciating, the foundation of life lies in the ordinary and real. The poet encourages us to cherish time, enjoy the beauty of nature and human world, and never forget the simplicity and genuineness of life.
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.
