The fine clouds have opened and the River of Stars is gone, A clear wind blows across the sky, and the moon widens its wave, The sand is smooth, the water still, no sound and no shadow, As I offer you a cup of wine, asking you to sing. But so sad is this song of yours and so bitter your voice That before I finish listening my tears have become a rain: "Where Lake Tung-t'ing is joined to the sky by the lofty Nine-Doubt Mountain, Dragons, crocodiles, rise and sink, apes, Hying foxes, whimper. At a ten to one risk of death, I have reached my official post, Where lonely I live and hushed, as though I were in hiding. I leave my bed, afraid of snakes; I eat, fearing poisons; The air of the lake is putrid, breathing its evil odours . . . . Yesterday, by the district office, the great drum was announcing The crowning of an emperor, a change in the realm. The edict granting pardons runs three hundred miles a day, All those who were to die have had their sentences commuted, The unseated are promoted and exiles are recalled, Corruptions are abolished, clean officers appointed. My superior sent my name in. but the governor would not listen And has only transferred me to this barbaric place. My rank is very low and useless to refer to; They might punish me with lashes in the dust of the street. Most of my fellow exiles are now returning home - A journey which, to me, is a heaven beyond climbing." ...Stop your song, I beg you, and listen to mine, A song that is utterly different from yours: " Tonight is the loveliest moon of the year. All else is with fate, not ours to control; But, refusing this wine, may we choose more tomorrow?"
Original Poem
「八月十五夜赠张功曹」
韩愈
纤云四卷天无河，清风吹空月舒波。
沙平水息声影绝，一杯相属君当歌。
君歌声酸辞且苦，不能听终泪如雨。
洞庭连天九嶷高，蛟龙出没猩鼯号。
十生九死到官所，幽居默默如藏逃。
下床畏蛇食畏药，海气湿蛰熏腥臊。
昨者州前槌大鼓，嗣皇继圣登夔皋。
赦书一日行万里，罪从大辟皆除死。
迁者追回流者还，涤瑕荡垢清朝班。
州家申名使家抑，坎轲只得移荆蛮。
判司卑官不堪说，未免捶楚尘埃间。
同时辈流多上道，天路幽险难追攀。
君歌且休听我歌，我歌今与君殊科。
一年明月今宵多，人生由命非由他。
有酒不饮奈明何？
Interpretation
This poem was composed on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the first year of the Yongzhen era of Emperor Shunzong of Tang (805 AD). Han Yu and Zhang Shu, having been demoted for offending powerful officials with their remonstrations, were both awaiting orders in Chenzhou. As they drank and conversed, they were moved to express their feelings through a "dialogue in song," lamenting the hardships of their political careers and the unpredictability of life.
First Couplet: “纤云四卷天无河 清风吹空月舒波。”
Xiān yún sì juǎn tiān wú hé qīng fēng chuī kōng yuè shū bō.
Wispy clouds scatter in all directions, leaving no trace of the Milky Way; a gentle breeze fills the air, and the moonlight ripples like water.
This couplet depicts the clear and serene Mid-Autumn night sky, with the clouds dispersed, the breeze light, and the moonlight flowing like water. It creates a tranquil yet poignant atmosphere, setting the stage for the emotions that follow.
Second Couplet: “沙平水息声影绝 一杯相属君当歌。”
Shā píng shuǐ xī shēng yǐng jué yī bēi xiāng zhǔ jūn dāng gē.
The sandy shore lies flat, the lake is still, and all sounds and shadows have vanished; I pour a cup of wine and urge you to sing.
The poet uses the quiet scene to encourage his friend to sing, though beneath the surface lies a deep melancholy, as he seeks solace in wine.
Third Couplet: “君歌声酸辞且苦 不能听终泪如雨。”
Jūn gē shēng suān cí qiě kǔ bù néng tīng zhōng lèi rú yǔ.
Your song is mournful, its words bitter; I cannot bear to listen and tears fall like rain.
The poet, moved by his friend's lament, is overwhelmed with emotion, highlighting their shared suffering.
Fourth Couplet: “洞庭连天九嶷高 蛟龙出没猩鼯号。”
Dòng tíng lián tiān jiǔ yí gāo jiāo lóng chū mò xīng wú háo.
The Dongting Lake stretches to the sky, the Jiuyi Mountains tower high; dragons emerge and vanish, while gibbons and flying squirrels cry.
This couplet portrays the desolate and perilous environment of their exile, reflecting the poet's anguish and fear.
Fifth Couplet: “十生九死到官所 幽居默默如藏逃。”
Shí shēng jiǔ sǐ dào guān suǒ yōu jū mò mò rú cáng táo.
After narrowly escaping death, I arrived at my post; living in seclusion, silent as a fugitive.
The poet vividly describes the life-threatening journey to his place of exile and the silent suffering of his secluded life.
Sixth Couplet: “下床畏蛇食畏药 海气湿蛰熏腥臊。”
Xià chuáng wèi shé shí wèi yào hǎi qì shī zhé xūn xīng sāo.
I fear snakes when I rise and poison in my food; the damp sea air reeks of decay and filth.
This couplet vividly depicts the harsh conditions of the exile, emphasizing the poet's daily struggles.
Seventh Couplet: “昨者州前槌大鼓 嗣皇继圣登夔皋。”
Zuó zhě zhōu qián chuí dà gǔ sì huáng jì shèng dēng kuí gāo.
Yesterday, drums were beaten before the prefecture; the new emperor ascended, appointing wise ministers like Kui and Gao.
The news of the new emperor's ascension and amnesty brings a glimmer of hope, shifting the tone from sorrow to joy.
Eighth Couplet: “赦书一日行万里 罪从大辟皆除死。”
Shè shū yī rì xíng wàn lǐ zuì cóng dà pì jiē chú sǐ.
The pardon decree travels ten thousand miles in a day; even those sentenced to death are spared.
The swift arrival of the amnesty decree symbolizes the poet's renewed hope and relief.
Ninth Couplet: “州家申名使家抑 坎轲只得移荆蛮。”
Zhōu jiā shēn míng shǐ jiā yì kǎn kě zhǐ dé yí jīng mán.
The prefecture submitted my name, but the envoy suppressed it; my fate remains troubled, and I am sent further to the barbarous Jingman region.
Despite the amnesty, the poet's political struggles continue, revealing his frustration and helplessness.
Tenth Couplet: “君歌且休听我歌 我歌今与君殊科。”
Jūn gē qiě xiū tīng wǒ gē wǒ gē jīn yǔ jūn shū kē.
Pause your song and listen to mine; my song today is of a different tone.
The poet interrupts his friend's lament to sing his own song, shifting the mood from sorrow to acceptance.
Eleventh Couplet: “一年明月今宵多 人生由命非由他。”
Yī nián míng yuè jīn xiāo duō rén shēng yóu mìng fēi yóu tā.
Tonight's moon is the brightest of the year; life is governed by fate, not by human effort.
The poet reflects on the unpredictability of life, finding solace in the beauty of the moon and the acceptance of fate.
Twelfth Couplet: “有酒不饮奈明何？”
Yǒu jiǔ bù yǐn nài míng hé?
With wine before us, how can we not drink to this bright night?
The poem concludes with a toast, expressing a resigned yet open-hearted embrace of the present moment.
Overall Appreciation
The poem is structured as a "dialogue in song," with clear progression and emotional fluctuations. It begins with the tranquility of the Mid-Autumn night, then recounts the hardships of exile and political struggles. The first half, through Zhang Shu's song, conveys deep sorrow, while the second half shifts to the poet's own song, expressing a more resigned and accepting attitude. The interplay of melancholy and optimism creates a profound and moving work.
Writing Characteristics
- Clever Structure, Narrative Through Song: The poet uses Zhang Shu's song to recount the hardships of exile, then contrasts it with his own song, creating a striking emotional shift.
- Emotional Swings, Rhythmic Contrasts: The poem moves from sorrow to hope, then back to disappointment, reflecting the poet's complex emotions amid political turmoil.
- Simple Language, Genuine Emotion: The poet's straightforward descriptions of exile and his resigned yet open-hearted tone create a unique and touching style.
Insights
This poem reveals Han Yu's complex emotions and wisdom in the face of adversity. Rather than succumbing to despair, he reflects on the unpredictability of fate and the hardships of political life, ultimately embracing a rational and accepting outlook. The line "life is governed by fate, not by human effort" is not a passive resignation but a profound understanding of life's uncertainties. In the face of life's ups and downs, we must strive while also finding inner peace in circumstances beyond our control.
Moreover, the poet's toast at the end expresses the idea that even in difficult times, we should cherish the present and find joy in fleeting moments of beauty. As the poem suggests, no matter how challenging life may be, there are always moments worth savoring. Instead of lamenting our hardships, we should learn to embrace the warmth and hope that life offers.
Poem translator
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet
Han Yu (韩愈), 768 - 824 AD, was a native of Luoyang. Orphaned at the age of three, he was raised by his sister-in-law and later entered the academy. Han Yu's poems were innovative and majestic, with a unique style that had a strong influence on Song poetry and extended into the Qing Dynasty.
