Analysis of "哀江头" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"哀江头" (Āi Jiāng Tóu, "Lament by the Riverside") is a poignant poem by Du Fu (杜甫, 712–770), one of China's greatest poets from the Tang Dynasty. Written during the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763), a period of chaos and suffering, the poem reflects Du Fu's grief over the fallen capital and the suffering of the people. It stands as a masterpiece of classical Chinese poetry, blending personal sorrow with historical tragedy.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

Full Text and Translation

少陵野老吞声哭，
Shǎolíng yělǎo tūnshēng kū,
The old man of Shaoling stifles his sobs,

春日潜行曲江曲。
Chūnrì qiánxíng Qǔjiāng qū.
Stealing through Qujiang's bends on a spring day.

江头宫殿锁千门，
Jiāngtóu gōngdiàn suǒ qiān mén,
By the riverside, palace gates stand locked by the thousand,

细柳新蒲为谁绿？
Xì liǔ xīn pú wèi shuí lǜ?
For whom do the slender willows and young rushes now turn green?

忆昔霓旌下南苑，
Yì xī níjīng xià Nányuàn,
I remember rainbow banners descending on the South Park,

苑中万物生颜色。
Yuàn zhōng wànwù shēng yánsè.
Where all things took on radiant hues.

昭阳殿里第一人，
Zhāoyáng diàn lǐ dìyī rén,
The foremost beauty of Zhaoyang Palace,

同辇随君侍君侧。
Tóng niǎn suí jūn shì jūn cè.
Shared the imperial carriage, attending the emperor.

辇前才人带弓箭，
Niǎn qián cáirén dài gōngjiàn,
Before the carriage, talented archers bore bows and arrows,

白马嚼啮黄金勒。
Bái mǎ jué niè huángjīn lè.
Their white horses champed at golden bridles.

翻身向天仰射云，
Fānshēn xiàng tiān yǎng shè yún,
Turning, they shot skyward at the clouds,

一笑正坠双飞翼。
Yī xiào zhèng zhuì shuāng fēi yì.
And with a laugh, brought down a pair of flying wings.

明眸皓齿今何在？
Míngmóu hàochǐ jīn hé zài?
Where now are those bright eyes and pearly teeth?

血污游魂归不得。
Xuè wū yóu hún guī bù dé.
A blood-stained wandering soul cannot return.

清渭东流剑阁深，
Qīng Wèi dōng liú Jiàngé shēn,
The clear Wei flows east; the Sword Pass is deep—

去住彼此无消息。
Qù zhù bǐcǐ wú xiāoxi.
Parted forever, with no word between.

人生有情泪沾臆，
Rénshēng yǒuqíng lèi zhān yì,
A man with feeling weeps, his breast soaked with tears,

江水江花岂终极？
Jiāngshuǐ jiānghuā qǐ zhōngjí?
But will the river and its flowers ever end?

黄昏胡骑尘满城，
Huánghūn hú qí chén mǎn chéng,
At dusk, Tartar horsemen fill the city with dust—

欲往城南望城北。
Yù wǎng chéngnán wàng chéngběi.
I meant to go south, yet gaze north in despair.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "The old man of Shaoling stifles his sobs" – Du Fu refers to himself as a helpless elder, suppressing his grief in a ruined world.
2. "Stealing through Qujiang's bends" – The poet wanders furtively, suggesting danger and desolation.
3. "Palace gates stand locked" – The grandeur of the Tang Dynasty is now abandoned.
4. "For whom do the willows turn green?" – Nature thrives, but human joy is gone.
5. "Rainbow banners descending on the South Park" – A memory of imperial splendor before the rebellion.
6. "The foremost beauty of Zhaoyang Palace" – Likely Yang Guifei, the emperor’s beloved consort, whose death symbolized the dynasty’s fall.
7. "A blood-stained wandering soul cannot return" – A tragic reference to Yang Guifei’s execution during the rebellion.
8. "The clear Wei flows east" – Time moves on, but grief remains.
9. "A man with feeling weeps" – Du Fu laments the transience of life.
10. "Tartar horsemen fill the city" – The rebels' occupation heightens despair.
11. "I meant to go south, yet gaze north" – Disorientation, reflecting the poet’s shattered world.

Themes and Symbolism

• Loss and Despair: The poem mourns the fallen dynasty, the death of Yang Guifei, and the suffering of the people.
• Nature’s Indifference: The willows and river continue, contrasting with human tragedy.
• Memory vs. Reality: The past’s beauty clashes with the present’s ruin.

Cultural Context

Du Fu wrote this after the An Lushan Rebellion, which devastated the Tang Dynasty. The poem blends historical lament with personal sorrow, embodying Confucian ideals of empathy for the people. The reference to Yang Guifei underscores how political turmoil destroys beauty and love.

Conclusion

"哀江头" is a masterpiece of sorrow, capturing the fragility of human glory against time’s relentless flow. Du Fu’s lament remains timeless, reminding us that even in ruin, poetry preserves memory and meaning. For modern readers, it offers a window into China’s historical resilience and the universal power of grief.

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