Autumn in the Capital by Du Mu

The tower overlooks frosty trees;
Speckless is the mirror-like sky.
The South Mountain and autumn bre
Vie to be more sublime and high.

Original Poem:

「长安秋望」
楼倚霜树外，镜天无一毫​。
南山与秋色，气势两相高。

杜牧

Interpretation:

This poem is a small piece by the late Tang poet Du Mu, focused on depicting a scenic autumn landscape. Although the exact year of composition is uncertain, it is generally believed to have been written in the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (850), during Du Mu’s later years when he resided in Chang’an. The poem captures the grandeur and clarity of the autumn scenery of Chang’an, observed from a lofty tower with views of the South Mountain and the crisp autumn sky.

First Couplet: “楼倚霜树外，镜天无一毫。”
(The tower stands tall beside frost-covered trees, and the sky, like a mirror, is devoid of any blemish.)
The first couplet describes the poet’s viewpoint from a tower, where the towering structure of the building and the frosty trees below create a sense of depth, and the autumn sky is depicted as a clear, mirror-like expanse. This vivid imagery not only represents the landscape but also reflects the poet’s clear and lofty inner state of mind.

Second Couplet: “南山与秋色，气势两相高。”
(The towering South Mountain and the expansive autumn colors both possess a grand, majestic air.)
The second couplet contrasts the tangible South Mountain with the abstract concept of autumn, highlighting the grandness and expansive beauty of both. By pairing the physical mountain with the intangible autumn colors, Du Mu emphasizes the profound and far-reaching nature of the season, elevating the scene’s majesty.

Writing Features:

1. Clear Structural Layers:
   The first two lines set the foreground with the tower and frosty trees, while the later lines shift to depict the distant view of the South Mountain and autumn, creating a sense of layered perspective and spatial depth.
2. Blending the Concrete with the Abstract:
   The contrast between the solid form of the South Mountain and the abstract vastness of autumn enhances the latter’s profound beauty.
3. Merging Emotions with Landscape:
   The expansive, clear landscape mirrors the poet’s transcendent and open-hearted inner world, uniting the external scene with the poet’s spiritual state.
4. Dynamic Contrast, Full of Majesty:
   The final lines imbue the scene with a sense of "competing for grandeur," giving the poem a dynamic, powerful conclusion filled with energy.

Overall Appreciation:

This is a small poem about autumn, but Du Mu does not focus on its desolation. Instead, he emphasizes the purity, vastness, and lofty beauty of the autumn landscape. By describing the tower, frosty trees, mirror-like sky, and the South Mountain, he creates a richly layered spatial image. The comparison of the South Mountain with autumn deepens the landscape’s symbolism, giving the autumn scene a majestic, towering quality. This poem not only presents nature’s beauty but also reflects Du Mu’s expansive, uplifting spirit. The poem’s concise language and profound imagery evoke a sense of tranquility and elevation, offering readers a refreshing artistic experience.

Insights:

This poem showcases the poet’s unique aesthetic, where a high and distant perspective reveals a deep connection with nature. It also conveys a sense of transcendence, suggesting that when one resonates with the natural world, one achieves a clear and open heart. The image of “the South Mountain and autumn colors both possessing grandness” encourages us to maintain clarity and expansiveness in our minds amid the complexities of life, striving for higher realms of understanding and serenity.

Poem translator:

Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)

About the poet:

Du Mu (杜牧), 803-853 AD, was a native of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Among the poets of the Late Tang Dynasty, he was one of those who had his own characteristics, and later people called Li Shangyin and Du Mu as "Little Li and Du". His poems are bright and colorful.