Analysis of "西厢记·长亭送别" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"长亭送别" (Chángtíng Sòngbié) is a famous scene from The Romance of the West Chamber (西厢记, Xīxiāng Jì), one of China’s most celebrated classical dramas. Written by Wang Shifu (王实甫) during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), this poetic masterpiece explores themes of love, separation, and longing. The scene depicts the emotional farewell between the lovers Cui Yingying (崔莺莺) and Zhang Sheng (张生) at a roadside pavilion (长亭), a traditional setting for parting in Chinese culture.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

[碧云天，黄花地，西风紧，北雁南飞。]
[Bì yún tiān, huáng huā dì, xī fēng jǐn, běi yàn nán fēi.]
[Blue are the clouds above, yellow the blooms below, / The west wind keenly blows, and wild geese southward go.]

[晓来谁染霜林醉？总是离人泪。]
[Xiǎo lái shéi rǎn shuāng lín zuì? Zǒng shì lí rén lèi.]
[Who dyed the frosted woods so red at dawn? / Tears of those who must part are the crimson drawn.]

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "碧云天，黄花地" – The opening lines paint a vivid autumn landscape: blue skies and golden chrysanthemums. The colors symbolize both beauty and melancholy, foreshadowing the lovers' sorrow.

2. "西风紧，北雁南飞" – The "west wind" (西风) is a classical motif representing autumn’s harshness, while migrating geese evoke separation and the passage of time.

3. "晓来谁染霜林醉？" – The rhetorical question personifies nature, suggesting the maple leaves are "drunk" with crimson—a metaphor for the lovers' overwhelming grief.

4. "总是离人泪" – The final line reveals the true "dye" is tears, blending human emotion with natural imagery in a poignant climax.

Themes and Symbolism

• Love and Separation: The pavilion (长亭) was a cultural symbol for farewells, heightening the scene’s emotional weight.
• Nature’s Role: Autumn’s decay mirrors the lovers’ anguish, a technique called yìjìng (意境, "emotional landscape") in Chinese poetry.
• Tears as Transformation: The idea that tears can stain nature reflects the Daoist belief in humanity’s unity with the cosmos.

Cultural Context

During the Yuan Dynasty, zaju (杂剧, poetic dramas) like The Romance of the West Chamber challenged Confucian norms by celebrating romantic love. The "长亭送别" scene, however, also echoes Tang Dynasty farewell poems, bridging literary traditions.

Conclusion

"长亭送别" captures the universal pain of parting through sublime natural imagery. Its fusion of emotion and environment remains a hallmark of Chinese poetic genius, offering readers today a timeless meditation on love’s fragility and resilience. As the crimson woods remind us, even in sorrow, beauty endures.

Note: For further reading, explore Stephen Owen’s translations of Yuan drama or *The Columbia Anthology of Yuan Drama.*