Analysis of "送杨氏女" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"送杨氏女" (Sòng Yángshì Nǚ, "Seeing Off the Yang Family Daughter") is a poignant farewell poem by Wei Yingwu (韦应物, 737–792), a Tang Dynasty poet known for his refined and melancholic style. This poem captures the bittersweet emotions of a father bidding farewell to his daughter as she leaves home to be married.

The poem reflects Confucian family values, filial piety, and the emotional weight of separation—a recurring theme in classical Chinese poetry. Wei Yingwu's restrained yet deeply moving language makes this work a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty literature.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

Original Text, Pinyin, and Translation

永日方戚戚
Yǒng rì fāng qīqī
All day, my heart is heavy with sorrow,

出行复悠悠
Chūxíng fù yōuyōu
As you journey far, my thoughts linger endlessly.

女子今有行
Nǚzǐ jīn yǒu xíng
Today, my daughter must depart,

大江溯轻舟
Dàjiāng sù qīng zhōu
Rowing a light boat against the great river’s flow.

尔辈苦无恃
Ěr bèi kǔ wú shì
You, poor child, lost your mother young,

抚念益慈柔
Fǔ niàn yì cí róu
So I raised you with tender care.

幼为长所育
Yòu wéi zhǎng suǒ yù
The elder nurtured the young,

两别泣不休
Liǎng bié qì bù xiū
Now we part, weeping without end.

对此结中肠
Duì cǐ jié zhōng cháng
This knots my heart with grief,

义往难复留
Yì wǎng nán fù liú
But duty calls—I cannot keep you.

自小阙内训
Zì xiǎo quē nèi xùn
Since childhood, you lacked a mother’s guidance,

事姑贻我忧
Shì gū yí wǒ yōu
Serving your mother-in-law now worries me.

赖兹托令门
Lài zī tuō lìng mén
Yet I trust you’ll find kindness in your new home,

仁恤庶无尤
Rén xù shù wú yóu
Where compassion may spare you hardship.

贫俭诚所尚
Pín jiǎn chéng suǒ shàng
Frugality is a virtue to cherish,

资从岂待周
Zī cóng qǐ dài zhōu
A dowry need not be lavish.

孝恭遵妇道
Xiào gōng zūn fù dào
Be filial, respectful—follow a wife’s duties,

容止顺其猷
Róng zhǐ shùn qí yóu
Let grace and composure guide your way.

别离在今晨
Biélí zài jīn chén
This morning we part,

见尔当何秋
Jiàn ěr dāng hé qiū
When shall I see you again?

居闲始自遣
Jū xián shǐ zì qiǎn
In solitude, I’ll console myself,

临感忽难收
Lín gǎn hū nán shōu
But this sudden sorrow overwhelms me.

归来视幼女
Guīlái shì yòu nǚ
Returning home, I see your younger sister,

零泪缘缨流
Líng lèi yuán yīng liú
Tears stream down my robe’s ties.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "All day, my heart is heavy with sorrow" – The poem opens with the father’s grief, setting a melancholic tone. The phrase qīqī (戚戚) evokes deep, lingering sadness.

2. "Rowing a light boat against the great river’s flow" – The imagery of a small boat against a vast river symbolizes the daughter’s vulnerability in her new life.

3. "You, poor child, lost your mother young" – The father’s tenderness is heightened by his role as both parents, emphasizing Confucian familial duty.

4. "Now we part, weeping without end" – The raw emotion contrasts with the restrained decorum expected in Tang society.

5. "Frugality is a virtue to cherish" – Reflects Confucian ideals of modesty and humility, even in marriage customs.

6. "When shall I see you again?" – A universal lament of parents, echoing the uncertainty of a daughter’s life after marriage in ancient China.

Themes and Symbolism

Key Themes:

• Separation and Loss: The father’s sorrow mirrors the Confucian emphasis on family unity.
• Filial Piety: The daughter’s duty to her new family is both a source of pride and anxiety.
• Gender Roles: The poem subtly critiques the societal expectation that daughters leave home.

Symbolism:

• The Great River (大江): Represents life’s inevitable changes and the daughter’s journey into adulthood.
• Tears (零泪): A recurring motif in farewell poetry, symbolizing unspoken love and grief.

Cultural Context

In Tang Dynasty China, marriage meant a daughter’s permanent departure from her natal home. Fathers often composed poems like this to express emotions they couldn’t voice openly. Wei Yingwu, a government official, blends personal vulnerability with Confucian ideals, making his work relatable across centuries.

Conclusion

"送杨氏女" is a masterpiece of emotional restraint and cultural depth. Its themes of love, duty, and separation resonate universally, offering English readers a window into Tang Dynasty values. The poem’s enduring power lies in its quiet sorrow—a father’s love, unspoken yet profoundly felt.

As modern readers, we might reflect: How do we say goodbye to those we cherish? And how does love endure across distance and time?