Analysis of "拨不断·大鱼" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "拨不断·大鱼" (Bō Bù Duàn · Dà Yú) is a sanqu (散曲) lyric written by Wang Heqing (王和卿), a Yuan Dynasty poet known for his humorous and satirical style. Living during the 13th-14th century, Wang was part of a literary movement that blended classical elegance with vernacular wit. This particular poem stands out for its playful exaggeration and vivid imagery, offering both entertainment and subtle commentary on human ambition and nature's power.

"拨不断" refers to a specific sanqu musical form, while "大鱼" (The Giant Fish) becomes a central symbol in this whimsical yet profound work. The poem holds significance as an excellent example of how Yuan Dynasty poets used everyday subjects to convey deeper philosophical ideas.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

胜神鳌

shèng shén áo

Mightier than the divine turtle

夯风涛

hāng fēng tāo

Shaking wind and waves

脊梁上轻负着蓬莱岛

jǐ liáng shàng qīng fù zhe péng lái dǎo

On its back lightly carries Penglai Island

万里夕阳锦背高

wàn lǐ xī yáng jǐn bèi gāo

Its brocade back rises high under sunset's endless miles

翻身犹恨东洋小

fān shēn yóu hèn dōng yáng xiǎo

Turning over, it still resents the Eastern Ocean's smallness

太公怎钓

tài gōng zěn diào

How could Jiang Taigang ever fish it?

Line-by-Line Analysis

Line 1: The poem opens by comparing the fish to shen'ao (神鳌), the mythical turtle that supports heaven in Chinese mythology. This immediately establishes the fish's supernatural scale.

Line 2: "夯" (hāng) suggests the fish's movements create seismic disturbances in the ocean, personifying nature's raw power through vivid onomatopoeia.

Line 3: Penglai Island was the legendary home of immortals. That the fish carries it "lightly" on its back creates humorous hyperbole while suggesting nothing is burdensome to this cosmic creature.

Line 4: The sunset imagery transforms the fish's back into a shimmering landscape, blending natural beauty with supernatural size. "万里" (ten thousand miles) emphasizes the vast Chinese concept of cosmic space.

Line 5: The fish's dissatisfaction with the ocean's size reflects human-like ambition, ironically critiquing mankind's endless desires through a zoomorphic metaphor.

Line 6: Jiang Taigang (姜太公) was a famous strategist who fished without bait, waiting for willing rulers. The rhetorical question suggests even legendary figures couldn't control such natural power.

Themes and Symbolism

Nature's Supremacy: The giant fish represents untamable natural forces that dwarf human achievements. Its effortless carrying of islands contrasts with mankind's struggle against nature.

Satire of Ambition: The fish's resentment of the ocean's size mirrors how human desires expand endlessly regardless of accomplishments. Wang humorously suggests even cosmic power brings dissatisfaction.

Mythological Interplay: By invoking Penglai and shen'ao, Wang connects to Daoist immortality themes while subverting them - here the divine becomes almost comically exaggerated.

Cultural Context

Written during Mongol-ruled Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), this poem reflects the era's blending of high culture and popular entertainment. Sanqu poetry often mixed classical references with vernacular language, appealing to both scholars and commoners.

The giant fish may symbolize:
1) Political power: The Yuan rulers seen as overwhelming traditional Chinese systems
2) Individual spirit: The common people's resilience against oppressive forces
3) Cosmic perspective: Daoist philosophy emphasizing humanity's smallness in the universe

Wang's humor was characteristic of Yuan sanqu, using exaggeration to critique society while avoiding direct confrontation with authorities.

Conclusion

"拨不断·大鱼" captivates through its delightful imagery and layered meanings. Wang Heqing masterfully combines mythological grandeur with playful wit, creating a poem that is simultaneously awe-inspiring and humorous. The giant fish stays memorable as both a cosmic wonder and a mirror for human foibles.

For modern readers, the poem offers timeless insight about ambition's futility and nature's majesty. Its closing question - "How could Jiang Taigang ever fish it?" - leaves us pondering humanity's place in the vast universe, as relevant today as in fourteenth-century China. Through six concise lines, Wang achieves what great poetry does best: entertains the imagination while provoking deeper reflection.