Viewed from afar, the hill's paved with brocade in piles;
The palace doors on hilltops opened one by one.
A steed which raised red dust won the fair mistress' smiles.
How many steeds which brought her fruit died on the run!
Original Poem:
「过华清宫绝句 · 其一」
杜牧
长安回望绣成堆，山顶千门次第开。
一骑红尘妃子笑，无人知是荔枝来。
Interpretation:
This poem was written by Du Mu near the Huaqing Palace in Chang'an, describing the luxurious life of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and his concubine Yang Guifei. The Huaqing Palace was built during the Kaiyuan era by Emperor Xuanzong and became a place where the emperor and Yang Guifei indulged in pleasures. Through the depiction of the court life at the time, the poet portrays the emperor's boundless indulgence and extravagance.
First Couplet:“长安回望绣成堆，山顶千门次第开。”
(From Chang'an, looking back from a distance, Lishan appears as a pile of brocades, with a thousand palace gates opening one by one.)
These lines depict the grandeur and beauty of the Huaqing Palace by describing the scenic Lishan Mountain. The use of “a pile of brocade” conveys the opulence and beauty of the surroundings, reflecting the lavish atmosphere of the palace. The opening of the palace gates hints at the arrival of some significant event.
Second Couplet:“一骑红尘妃子笑，无人知是荔枝来。”
(A rider rushes forward, stirring up dust, the consort laughs, and no one knows the rider brings lychees.)
This couplet creates an atmosphere of suspense, with the depiction of a rider galloping towards the palace. The final revelation of the “lychees” subtly hints at the emperor and Yang Guifei’s indulgent lifestyle, particularly their love for luxury, as the arrival of a southern delicacy like lychees brings such delight.
Writing Features:
- Scene Transition and Suspense: The poet links the opulence of the palace with the unfolding event, creating suspense to engage the reader’s curiosity.
- Implicit Expression: The poet does not directly describe the indulgent life but uses the detail of the lychees to symbolize the luxurious lifestyle of the emperor and his consort.
- Subtle Meaning: Through the lychee delivery, the poet skillfully reflects the extravagant lifestyle of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei, implicitly criticizing their indulgent ways.
Overall Analysis:
This poem, through intricate imagery and a suspenseful narrative, subtly reveals the extravagant life of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei. The poet first depicts the grandeur of the Huaqing Palace and then uses the arrival of lychees brought by a rider as a key point, creating suspense that leads to the revelation of their indulgence. The subtle artistic technique and implicit expression make the poem's meaning more profound.
Insights:
By portraying the luxurious life of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei, the poet uses details and metaphors to reveal the corruption and extravagance of society at the time. This technique of reflecting social trends through small details serves as a warning to be mindful of the decay and degradation brought about by excessive luxury.
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.
