Analysis of "江城子·乙卯正月二十日夜记梦" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "Jiāng Chéng Zǐ · Yǐ Mǎo Zhēng Yuè Èr Shí Rì Yè Jì Mèng" (江城子·乙卯正月二十日夜记梦) is one of the most famous cí (lyric poetry) pieces by Su Shi (苏轼, 1037–1101), a towering figure of the Song Dynasty. Known also by his literary name Dongpo, Su Shi was a polymath—poet, calligrapher, painter, and statesman—whose works deeply influenced Chinese literature.

This poem was written in 1075, ten years after the death of his beloved first wife, Wang Fu (王弗). It is a poignant dream elegy, blending sorrow, nostalgia, and the inescapable passage of time. Revered for its emotional depth, it remains one of the most moving love poems in Chinese literary history.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

Original Text, Pinyin, and Translation

十年生死两茫茫，
Shí nián shēng sǐ liǎng máng máng,
Ten years, living and dead—dim, distant,

不思量，自难忘。
Bù sī liang, zì nán wàng.
Not thinking, yet never forgotten.

千里孤坟，无处话凄凉。
Qiān lǐ gū fén, wú chù huà qī liáng.
Her lonely grave a thousand miles away,
Nowhere to share this silent misery.

纵使相逢应不识，
Zòng shǐ xiāng féng yīng bù shí,
Even if we met, would you know me now?

尘满面，鬓如霜。
Chén mǎn miàn, bìn rú shuāng.
My face dust-covered, hair frost-white.

夜来幽梦忽还乡，
Yè lái yōu mèng hū huán xiāng,
Last night in a dim dream, I returned home,

小轩窗，正梳妆。
Xiǎo xuān chuāng, zhèng shū zhuāng.
By the small window, you were combing your hair.

相顾无言，惟有泪千行。
Xiāng gù wú yán, wéi yǒu lèi qiān háng.
We gazed in silence, only tears streaming down.

料得年年肠断处，
Liào dé nián nián cháng duàn chù,
Year after year, this heartbreak will return—

明月夜，短松冈。
Míng yuè yè, duǎn sōng gāng.
On moonlit nights, by the mound of pines.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "Ten years, living and dead—dim, distant,"
   - The opening line sets the tone of separation and the vast gulf between life and death. The word máng máng (茫茫) evokes a boundless, desolate expanse.

2. "Not thinking, yet never forgotten."
   - A paradox—Su Shi claims he does not dwell on her, yet her memory lingers eternally.

3. "Her lonely grave a thousand miles away, / Nowhere to share this silent misery."
   - The gū fén (孤坟, "lonely grave") emphasizes isolation, while qī liáng (凄凉, "misery") underscores his grief.

4. "Even if we met, would you know me now? / My face dust-covered, hair frost-white."
   - Time has aged him; he imagines himself unrecognizable, marked by hardship.

5. "Last night in a dim dream, I returned home, / By the small window, you were combing your hair."
   - The dream sequence is tender yet haunting—Wang Fu appears as she was in life, a fleeting vision of domestic intimacy.

6. "We gazed in silence, only tears streaming down."
   - The silence speaks louder than words; their sorrow is wordless but profound.

7. "Year after year, this heartbreak will return— / On moonlit nights, by the mound of pines."
   - The duǎn sōng gāng (短松冈, "mound of pines") is her burial site, a recurring symbol of mourning.

Themes and Symbolism

Love Beyond Death

The poem transcends mere nostalgia—it is a meditation on enduring love that persists despite physical separation.

Time and Mortality

Su Shi contrasts his aged self with his wife’s eternal youth in memory, highlighting life’s impermanence.

Dreams as a Bridge

The dream sequence serves as a fragile connection between the living and the dead, a common motif in Chinese elegiac poetry.

Symbols

• Frost-white hair (鬓如霜): Symbolizes aging and sorrow.
• Moonlit pines (明月夜，短松冈): Represents eternal remembrance and the cyclical nature of grief.

Cultural Context

Song Dynasty Mourning Practices

During the Song Dynasty, Confucian rituals emphasized filial piety and remembrance of ancestors. Dreams were often seen as visitations from the deceased.

Su Shi’s Personal Tragedy

Su Shi married Wang Fu at 19; she died at 27. Their bond was deep, and her death left a lasting void. This poem reflects qíng (情, deep emotion), a cornerstone of Chinese literary expression.

Cí Poetry Form

The Jiāng Chéng Zǐ tune pattern alternates between long and short lines, mirroring the ebb and flow of emotion.

Conclusion

"Jiāng Chéng Zǐ · Yǐ Mǎo Zhēng Yuè Èr Shí Rì Yè Jì Mèng" is a masterpiece of lyrical sorrow, blending personal grief with universal themes of love and loss. Su Shi’s ability to convey profound emotion in sparse, evocative language ensures its timeless resonance.

For modern readers, the poem is a reminder that grief and love are inseparable—an echo across centuries that still moves hearts today.

"We gazed in silence, only tears streaming down."
Some sorrows transcend words, cultures, and even time itself.