Analysis of "饮中八仙歌" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The "饮中八仙歌" (Yǐn Zhōng Bā Xiān Gē), or "Song of the Eight Immortal Drinkers," is a famous poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu (杜甫, 712–770). Du Fu is often regarded as one of China's greatest poets, known for his profound social consciousness and mastery of classical verse. This poem humorously portrays eight legendary figures of the Tang era who were renowned for their love of wine and eccentric personalities.

The poem holds a special place in Chinese literature as it captures the carefree spirit of the Tang Dynasty's golden age, while also reflecting the Confucian ideal of balance—celebrating joy and indulgence without losing sight of moral and intellectual virtues.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

知章骑马似乘船，
Zhīzhāng qí mǎ sì chéng chuán,
He Zhizhang rides his horse as if sailing a boat,

眼花落井水底眠。
Yǎnhuā luò jǐng shuǐdǐ mián.
Drunk, he tumbles into a well and sleeps beneath the water.

汝阳三斗始朝天，
Rǔyáng sān dǒu shǐ cháotiān,
Prince Ruyang drinks three gallons before facing the emperor,

道逢麹车口流涎，
Dào féng qū chē kǒu liú xián,
His mouth waters at the sight of a cart loaded with wine.

恨不移封向酒泉。
Hèn bù yí fēng xiàng jiǔquán.
He wishes his fiefdom were moved to the "Spring of Wine."

左相日兴费万钱，
Zuǒ xiàng rì xīng fèi wàn qián,
The Left Minister spends ten thousand coins daily on wine,

饮如长鲸吸百川，
Yǐn rú cháng jīng xī bǎi chuān,
Drinking like a whale gulping down rivers,

衔杯乐圣称避贤。
Xián bēi lè shèng chēng bì xián.
Raising his cup, he toasts the sage and avoids the virtuous.

宗之潇洒美少年，
Zōng zhī xiāosǎ měi shàonián,
Zong Zhi, the dashing and handsome youth,

举觞白眼望青天，
Jǔ shāng báiyǎn wàng qīngtiān,
Lifts his wine cup, rolls his eyes at the blue sky,

皎如玉树临风前。
Jiǎo rú yù shù lín fēng qián.
Radiant as a jade tree standing in the wind.

苏晋长斋绣佛前，
Sū Jìn cháng zhāi xiù fó qián,
Su Jin, though devout before the embroidered Buddha,

醉中往往爱逃禅。
Zuì zhōng wǎngwǎng ài táo chán.
Often flees meditation when drunk.

李白斗酒诗百篇，
Lǐ Bái dǒu jiǔ shī bǎi piān,
Li Bai, after a gallon of wine, writes a hundred poems,

长安市上酒家眠，
Cháng'ān shì shàng jiǔjiā mián,
Sleeps in taverns along Chang'an's streets,

天子呼来不上船，
Tiānzǐ hū lái bù shàng chuán,
Even the emperor's summons can't make him board the boat,

自称臣是酒中仙。
Zì chēng chén shì jiǔ zhōng xiān.
Declaring himself an immortal of wine.

张旭三杯草圣传，
Zhāng Xù sān bēi cǎo shèng chuán,
Zhang Xu, after three cups, becomes the sage of cursive script,

脱帽露顶王公前，
Tuō mào lù dǐng wánggōng qián,
Bares his head before nobles,

挥毫落纸如云烟。
Huī háo luò zhǐ rú yúnyān.
His brush dances on paper like swirling clouds.

焦遂五斗方卓然，
Jiāo Suì wǔ dǒu fāng zhuórán,
Jiao Sui, after five gallons, becomes extraordinarily eloquent,

高谈雄辩惊四筵。
Gāo tán xióng biàn jīng sì yán.
His bold debates astonish the banquet.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. He Zhizhang (贺知章): The poem opens with a comical image of the elderly scholar drunkenly riding his horse as if on a boat, then falling into a well. This reflects the Tang ideal of unrestrained joy and freedom from social conventions.

2. Prince Ruyang (汝阳王): The prince’s obsession with wine is so great that he fantasizes about ruling a land of eternal wine ("Spring of Wine" was a legendary place where wine flowed like water).

3. Left Minister Li Shizhi (左相李适之): Known for his extravagant banquets, his "whale-like" drinking symbolizes the Tang elite’s indulgence. His toast to the "sage" (wine) over "virtuous men" is a playful jab at Confucian seriousness.

4. Cui Zongzhi (崔宗之): The image of the handsome youth rolling his eyes while drinking suggests aristocratic arrogance, yet his beauty ("jade tree in the wind") elevates him to an almost divine figure.

5. Su Jin (苏晋): A devout Buddhist who abandons meditation for wine, embodying the tension between spiritual discipline and earthly pleasure.

6. Li Bai (李白): The most famous of the eight, Li Bai’s legendary capacity for wine and poetry is celebrated here. His defiance of the emperor underscores the poet’s untamable spirit.

7. Zhang Xu (张旭): A calligrapher whose drunkenness unlocks artistic genius, showing how wine could inspire creativity in Tang culture.

8. Jiao Sui (焦遂): The poem ends with the relatively obscure Jiao Sui, whose drunken eloquence suggests that wine reveals hidden brilliance.

Themes and Symbolism

• Celebration of Eccentricity: Each figure is admired for their unique flaws, reflecting the Tang appreciation for individuality.
• Wine as Liberation: Alcohol symbolizes freedom from societal norms, a conduit for artistic and intellectual expression.
• Confucian vs. Daoist Values: The poem balances Confucian ideals of duty with Daoist spontaneity, showing how Tang culture embraced both.

Cultural Context

The Tang Dynasty (618–907) was a golden age of Chinese poetry, where wine culture flourished among scholars and officials. Drinking was seen as a way to bond, create art, and even critique politics indirectly. The "Eight Immortals" were real historical figures, but Du Fu’s portrayal immortalized them as symbols of Tang-era joie de vivre.

This poem also reflects the Daoist concept of ziran (自然, "naturalness"), where true virtue lies in being unrestrained and authentic.

Conclusion

"饮中八仙歌" is more than a tribute to eight drunkards—it’s a celebration of human imperfection and the creative power of uninhibited joy. For modern readers, it offers a window into a culture that valued both intellectual rigor and hedonistic delight. In an age of productivity obsession, Du Fu’s drinkers remind us that genius often lies in letting go.

As Li Bai himself wrote: "Life’s brevity calls for revelry; / Don’t let your golden cup face the moon empty!" (人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月). Some truths, it seems, are best understood through a tipsy haze.