Analysis of "庐山谣寄卢侍御虚舟" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "庐山谣寄卢侍御虚舟" (Lúshān Yáo Jì Lú Shìyù Xūzhōu) was written by Li Bai (李白, Lǐ Bái, 701–762), one of China’s most celebrated poets from the Tang Dynasty. Known as the "Immortal Poet" (诗仙, Shīxiān), Li Bai was famous for his romantic, free-spirited style and his deep connection with nature.

This poem was composed during Li Bai’s later years when he was traveling through Mount Lu (庐山, Lúshān), a majestic mountain in Jiangxi province revered for its beauty and spiritual significance. The poem is addressed to his friend Lu Xuzhou (卢虚舟), a government official (侍御, Shìyù). It blends vivid natural imagery with Taoist philosophy, expressing Li Bai’s longing for transcendence and freedom.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

我本楚狂人，凤歌笑孔丘。
Wǒ běn Chǔ kuáng rén, fèng gē xiào Kǒngqiū.
I am the madman of Chu, singing of phoenixes, laughing at Confucius.

手持绿玉杖，朝别黄鹤楼。
Shǒu chí lǜ yù zhàng, zhāo bié Huánghè lóu.
Holding my green jade staff, at dawn I bid farewell to Yellow Crane Tower.

五岳寻仙不辞远，一生好入名山游。
Wǔyuè xún xiān bù cí yuǎn, yīshēng hào rù míngshān yóu.
Seeking immortals across the Five Peaks, never fearing distance; all my life I’ve loved roaming famous mountains.

庐山秀出南斗傍，屏风九叠云锦张。
Lúshān xiù chū Nándǒu páng, píngfēng jiǔ dié yún jǐn zhāng.
Mount Lu rises splendid by the Southern Dipper, its nine-fold peaks like a painted screen of brocaded clouds.

影落明湖青黛光，金阙前开二峰长。
Yǐng luò míng hú qīng dài guāng, jīn què qián kāi èr fēng cháng.
Its reflection falls on Bright Lake, shimmering blue-black; golden gates open before twin peaks stretching afar.

银河倒挂三石梁，香炉瀑布遥相望。
Yínhé dào guà sān shí liáng, xiānglú pùbù yáo xiāng wàng.
The Milky Way hangs upside down on three stone beams; the Incense Burner Waterfall gazes from afar.

回崖沓嶂凌苍苍，翠影红霞映朝日。
Huí yá tà zhàng líng cāngcāng, cuì yǐng hóng xiá yìng zhāorì.
Cliffs and ridges twist into the azure; emerald shadows and rosy clouds reflect the morning sun.

鸟飞不到吴天长，登高壮观天地间。
Niǎo fēi bù dào Wú tiān cháng, dēng gāo zhuàngguān tiāndì jiān.
Birds cannot fly to the endless Wu sky; climbing high, I behold the grandeur between heaven and earth.

大江茫茫去不还，黄云万里动风色。
Dàjiāng mángmáng qù bù huán, huáng yún wànlǐ dòng fēngsè.
The vast river flows away, never to return; yellow clouds stretch for miles, stirred by the wind.

白波九道流雪山。
Bái bō jiǔ dào liú xuěshān.
White waves in nine branches flow like snow-capped mountains.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "I am the madman of Chu..."
   - Li Bai identifies with the "madman of Chu", a reference to a legendary eccentric who mocked Confucius. This sets the tone for his rejection of rigid Confucian duties in favor of spiritual freedom.

2. "Holding my green jade staff..."
   - The green jade staff symbolizes Taoist immortality, while Yellow Crane Tower was a famous departure point for poets and wanderers.

3. "Seeking immortals across the Five Peaks..."
   - The Five Peaks are China’s sacred mountains. Li Bai’s lifelong quest for immortals reflects his Taoist beliefs.

4. "Mount Lu rises splendid..."
   - The Southern Dipper is an asterism in Chinese astronomy, linking the mountain to cosmic beauty. The nine-fold peaks evoke a celestial landscape.

5. "Its reflection falls on Bright Lake..."
   - The interplay of light and water creates a dreamlike scene, blurring reality and reflection.

6. "The Milky Way hangs upside down..."
   - The Incense Burner Waterfall is a real landmark, but Li Bai transforms it into a mythical cascade descending from heaven.

7. "Cliffs and ridges twist into the azure..."
   - The vivid colors (emerald, rosy clouds) highlight the mountain’s ethereal beauty.

8. "Birds cannot fly to the endless Wu sky..."
   - The Wu sky symbolizes boundless freedom, yet even birds cannot reach it—hinting at the poet’s yearning for the unreachable.

9. "The vast river flows away..."
   - The yellow clouds and white waves depict nature’s grandeur and impermanence, a common theme in Li Bai’s work.

Themes and Symbolism

• Freedom and Transcendence: Li Bai rejects worldly constraints, seeking spiritual liberation in nature.
• Nature as Divine: Mount Lu becomes a gateway to the heavens, embodying Taoist harmony.
• Impermanence: The flowing river and shifting clouds reflect Buddhist and Taoist ideas of change.

Cultural Context

• Tang Dynasty Poetry: Li Bai was part of a golden age of Chinese poetry, where nature and emotion were central.
• Taoist Influence: The poem’s imagery (immortals, jade staff) reflects Li Bai’s Taoist pursuits.
• Friendship: Though addressed to Lu Xuzhou, the poem is less about the friend and more about Li Bai’s inner journey.

Conclusion

"庐山谣寄卢侍御虚舟" is a masterpiece of romantic imagery and philosophical depth. Li Bai’s awe for Mount Lu mirrors his quest for the sublime—both in nature and the human spirit. Today, the poem resonates as a timeless ode to freedom, beauty, and the eternal search for meaning beyond the mundane.

For readers exploring Chinese poetry, Li Bai’s work offers a gateway into a world where mountains touch the heavens, and the soul soars beyond earthly bounds.