Analysis of "贺新郎·别茂嘉十二弟" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "贺新郎·别茂嘉十二弟" (Hè Xīn Láng · Bié Mào Jiā Shí'èr Dì) was written by Xin Qiji (辛弃疾, 1140–1207), a prominent military leader and poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. Known for his ci (lyric poetry) style, Xin Qiji often expressed themes of patriotism, heroism, and personal sorrow, reflecting his own struggles against the invading Jin dynasty.

This poem is a farewell to his cousin Mao Jia, blending personal grief with broader lamentations about the fallen Northern Song territories. It is celebrated for its emotional depth, historical allusions, and powerful imagery, making it one of Xin Qiji’s most famous works.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

绿树听鹈鴂
Lǜ shù tīng tíjué
Green trees hear the cuckoo’s cry,

更那堪、鹧鸪声住，杜鹃声切
Gèng nǎ kān, zhègū shēng zhù, dùjuān shēng qiè
How can I bear—the partridge’s call fading, the cuckoo’s mournful note?

啼到春归无寻处，苦恨芳菲都歇
Tí dào chūn guī wú xún chù, kǔ hèn fāngfēi dōu xiē
Their cries persist till spring departs without a trace, bitter grief—all fragrance withered.

算未抵、人间离别
Suàn wèi dǐ, rénjiān líbié
Yet none compare to the sorrow of human parting.

马上琵琶关塞黑
Mǎshàng pípa guān sài hēi
On horseback, a pipa plays as the frontier darkens,

更长门、翠辇辞金阙
Gèng cháng mén, cuì niǎn cí jīn què
Or the abandoned queen leaving the golden palace in her jade carriage.

看燕燕，送归妾
Kàn yàn yàn, sòng guī qiè
Watching swallows, bidding farewell to a departing concubine.

(The full poem is longer, but this excerpt captures its essence.)

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "Green trees hear the cuckoo’s cry"
   - The cuckoo (鹈鴂, tíjué) symbolizes impending sorrow in Chinese poetry. Its call foreshadows loss.

2. "How can I bear—the partridge’s call fading, the cuckoo’s mournful note?"
   - The partridge (鹧鸪, zhègū) and cuckoo (杜鹃, dùjuān) deepen the melancholy. Their cries represent unfulfilled longing.

3. "Their cries persist till spring departs... bitter grief—all fragrance withered."
   - Spring’s end mirrors the poet’s despair. "Fragrance withered" (芳菲都歇) suggests lost beauty and hope.

4. "Yet none compare to the sorrow of human parting."
   - Xin Qiji contrasts nature’s sadness with the deeper pain of farewells, especially in wartime.

5. "On horseback, a pipa plays as the frontier darkens"
   - References Wang Zhaojun, a Han dynasty beauty sent to marry a barbarian king. The pipa (琵琶) underscores exile’s loneliness.

6. "Or the abandoned queen leaving the golden palace"
   - Alludes to Empress Chen, banished by Emperor Wu. The "jade carriage" (翠辇) symbolizes fallen nobility.

7. "Watching swallows, bidding farewell to a departing concubine."
   - Swallows (燕燕) represent fleeting bonds. The concubine’s departure mirrors Xin Qiji’s separation from his cousin.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Grief and Parting
   - The poem intertwines personal farewells with historical tragedies, emphasizing the universality of loss.

2. Patriotism and Exile
   - Xin Qiji, exiled from his northern homeland, channels his frustration into allusions to exiled figures like Wang Zhaojun.

3. Nature’s Transience
   - Birds and fading spring symbolize impermanence, contrasting with enduring human sorrow.

Cultural Context

• Written during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), a time of territorial loss and political weakness.
• Xin Qiji, a military leader, used poetry to express his thwarted ambitions to reclaim the north.
• The poem reflects Confucian values of loyalty and youhuan (忧患, "concern for one’s country").

Conclusion

"贺新郎·别茂嘉十二弟" is a masterpiece of emotional and historical resonance. Xin Qiji’s layered imagery—from cuckoos to exiled queens—transforms personal grief into a timeless meditation on separation and patriotism. For modern readers, it offers a window into the enduring Chinese literary tradition of blending personal and political lament. Its message remains poignant: even in sorrow, art immortalizes the human spirit.

"To part is to die a little." — Xin Qiji’s poem echoes this universal truth across centuries.