Analysis of "送人东游" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"送人东游" (Sòng Rén Dōng Yóu, "Seeing Off a Friend Traveling East") is a farewell poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Wen Tingyun (温庭筠, c. 812–870). Wen was a prominent figure in the Ci (lyric poetry) tradition but also excelled in classical verse. This poem reflects the Tang Dynasty's refined literary culture, where parting verses were a common expression of friendship and philosophical reflection on journeys.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

荒戍落黄叶
Huāng shù luò huáng yè
The desolate fort sheds yellow leaves,

浩然离故关
Hàorán lí gù guān
Resolutely, you leave the old pass.

高风汉阳渡
Gāo fēng Hànyáng dù
A strong wind at Hanyang Crossing,

初日郢门山
Chū rì Yǐng mén shān
The first sun on Yingmen Mountain.

江上几人在
Jiāng shàng jǐ rén zài
How many remain by the river?

天涯孤棹还
Tiānyá gū zhào huán
Your lone boat returns from the horizon.

何当重相见
Hé dāng chóng xiāng jiàn
When shall we meet again?

樽酒慰离颜
Zūn jiǔ wèi lí yán
With wine to console our parting faces.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "The desolate fort sheds yellow leaves"
   - The "yellow leaves" symbolize autumn, a season often associated with melancholy and transition in Chinese poetry. The "desolate fort" sets a lonely tone.

2. "Resolutely, you leave the old pass"
   - The friend departs with determination (Hàorán), suggesting both courage and inevitability.

3-4. "A strong wind at Hanyang Crossing / The first sun on Yingmen Mountain"
- These lines contrast movement (wind, crossing) with stillness (mountain, sunrise), mirroring the tension between departure and permanence.

5-6. "How many remain by the river? / Your lone boat returns from the horizon"
- The rhetorical question emphasizes solitude, while the "lone boat" underscores the friend's isolation on their journey.

7-8. "When shall we meet again? / With wine to console our parting faces"
- A classic Tang farewell trope: the hope of reunion and the comfort of shared wine, symbolizing camaraderie.

Themes and Symbolism

• Transience and Separation: Autumn imagery and the lone boat evoke the fleeting nature of human connections.
• Journey as Metaphor: The eastward travel mirrors life's uncertain path, a common theme in Tang poetry.
• Nature's Role: Wind, mountains, and rivers serve as silent witnesses to human emotions, reflecting Daoist harmony.

Cultural Context

During the Tang Dynasty, farewell poems were a cultural staple, often exchanged between scholars, officials, and friends. Wen Tingyun's work exemplifies the era's blend of emotional depth and natural symbolism. The poem also subtly critiques the instability of life during the late Tang, a period of political decline.

Conclusion

"送人东游" captures the universal ache of parting while celebrating resilience. Its vivid imagery and restrained emotion resonate across cultures, offering readers a glimpse into Tang Dynasty sensibilities. In today's world of constant movement, Wen's words remind us of the enduring value of connection—and the hope of reunion.

"With wine to console our parting faces"—perhaps the oldest remedy for goodbyes, and still the sweetest.