The proud Tartar sons are hunting out of the town;
White grass spreads to the sky, wild fire bums up and down.
They ride on the desert when evening clouds hang low;
In autumn days on the vast plain they bend their bow.
Our officers strengthen the defense by daylight;
Our victorious generals cross the river at night.
The swords, bows and bridles mounted with gems and jade
Are awarded generals and their brave cavalcade.
Original Poem
「出塞作」
王维
居延城外猎天骄，白草连天野火烧。
暮云空碛时驱马，秋日平原好射雕。
护羌校尉朝乘障，破虏将军夜渡辽。
玉靶角弓珠勒马，汉家将赐霍嫖姚。
Interpretation
Composed in 737 AD during heightened Tang-Tibetan border tensions, this poem reflects Wang Wei's mission as an imperial inspector to the frontier following General Cui Xiyi's defeat at Qinghai. Through vivid military imagery, it captures both the tense atmosphere and the Tang army's composed valor.
First Couplet: "居延城外猎天骄，白草连天野火烧。"
Jūyán chéng wài liè tiānjiāo, bái cǎo liántiān yěhuǒ shāo.
"Beyond Juyan's walls hunt heaven's proud sons; / White grass meets sky where wildfire runs."
The opening depicts Tibetan hunters ("heaven's proud sons" denoting吐蕃 warriors) against a vast steppe ablaze—the burning plains symbolizing imminent conflict while echoing Gao Shi's "hunting fires light Wolf Mountain."
Second Couplet: "暮云空碛时驱马，秋日平原好射雕。"
Mù yún kōng qì shí qū mǎ, qiū rì píngyuán hǎo shè diāo.
"Dusk clouds o'er barren sands spur their chase; / Autumn plains favor eagle-shooting race."
These lines magnify the Tibetans' martial prowess through hunting imagery. The harsh environment underscores frontier dangers while foreshadowing the Tang response.
Third Couplet: "护羌校尉朝乘障，破虏将军夜渡辽。"
Hù qiāng xiàowèi zhāo chéng zhàng, pò lǔ jiāngjūn yè dù liáo.
"At dawn Qiang-protectors man the forts; / At night Liao-crossing general reports."
The Tang counterstrategy unfolds through precise temporal contrast ("dawn/night") and tactical duality (defensive "forts"/offensive "crossing"), showcasing disciplined military efficiency.
Fourth Couplet: "玉靶角弓珠勒马，汉家将赐霍嫖姚。"
Yù bǎ jiǎo gōng zhū lè mǎ, hànjiā jiāng cì huò piāoyáo.
"Jade-shaft bows, pearl-bridled chargers await— / Han's rewards for Huo's glory duplicate."
The conclusion links Cui's anticipated triumph to Huo Qubing's legendary victories, using historical parallelism to elevate contemporary heroism within Tang's military honor system.
Holistic Appreciation
Wang Wei masterfully constructs a dialectic of threat and response. The first half's predatory energy (hunting, fires, eagle-shooting) yields to the second half's orchestrated countermeasures—dawn defenses and night maneuvers demonstrating Tang's strategic superiority. Historical echoes transform a border skirmish into timeless military wisdom.
Artistic Merits
- Strategic contrast: Tibetan ferocity versus Tang discipline
- Indirect intensity: Battle tension conveyed through environmental symbolism
- Historical resonance: Huo Qubing allusion ennobles current campaign
- Tactical imagery: "Dawn forts/night crossings" epitomize military precision
Insights
The poem transcends its historical moment to reveal enduring truths about crisis management: true strength lies in disciplined adaptation rather than brute force. By framing military action as rhythmic (day/night) and ceremonial (rewards echoing Han glory), Wang suggests that lasting victory belongs to those who blend strategy with tradition.
Poem translator
Xu Yuanchong (许渊冲)
About the poet
Wang Wei (王维), 701 - 761 A.D., was a native of Yuncheng, Shanxi Province. Wang Wei was a poet of landscape and idylls. His poems of landscape and idylls, with far-reaching images and mysterious meanings, were widely loved by readers in later generations, but Wang Wei never really became a man of landscape and idylls.
