Analysis of "定风波·莫听穿林打叶声" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "Ding Feng Bo: Mo Ting Chuan Lin Da Ye Sheng" (定风波·莫听穿林打叶声) was written by Su Shi (苏轼), one of the most celebrated poets of the Song Dynasty (960–1279). Also known as Su Dongpo, he was a master of ci poetry (lyrical verses set to music) and a prominent statesman, calligrapher, and gastronome.

This poem was composed in 1082 during Su Shi's exile in Huangzhou, a period of hardship that paradoxically produced some of his greatest works. The poem reflects his Daoist-inspired resilience and Zen-like acceptance of life's uncertainties, making it a timeless meditation on adversity and inner peace.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

莫听穿林打叶声
Mò tīng chuān lín dǎ yè shēng
Do not listen to the rain beating against the trees.

何妨吟啸且徐行
Hé fáng yín xiào qiě xú xíng
Why not chant and stroll at ease?

竹杖芒鞋轻胜马
Zhú zhàng máng xié qīng shèng mǎ
A bamboo staff and straw sandals—lighter than a horse.

谁怕？
Shéi pà?
Who’s afraid?

一蓑烟雨任平生
Yī suō yān yǔ rèn píng shēng
A straw cloak lets me brave life’s misty rains.

料峭春风吹酒醒
Liào qiào chūn fēng chuī jiǔ xǐng
The biting spring wind sobers my wine-drowsy mind.

微冷
Wēi lěng
A slight chill,

山头斜照却相迎
Shān tóu xié zhào què xiāng yíng
But the setting sun atop the hill greets me warmly.

回首向来萧瑟处
Huí shǒu xiàng lái xiāo sè chù
Turning back to the bleak path I came from,

归去
Guī qù
I return—

也无风雨也无晴
Yě wú fēng yǔ yě wú qíng
No wind, no rain, no sunshine.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "Do not listen to the rain beating against the trees."
   - The opening line dismisses external disturbances, urging detachment from life’s troubles.

2. "Why not chant and stroll at ease?"
   - Su Shi suggests embracing hardship with composure and even joy.

3. "A bamboo staff and straw sandals—lighter than a horse."
   - Humble tools symbolize freedom from material burdens, contrasting with the elite’s reliance on horses.

4. "Who’s afraid?"
   - A defiant rhetorical question, showing his fearlessness amid adversity.

5. "A straw cloak lets me brave life’s misty rains."
   - The cloak represents resilience—simple yet sufficient protection.

6. "The biting spring wind sobers my wine-drowsy mind."
   - The wind is a metaphor for clarity after hardship.

7. "A slight chill, but the setting sun atop the hill greets me warmly."
   - Duality of experience: discomfort followed by solace.

8. "Turning back to the bleak path I came from… I return—No wind, no rain, no sunshine."
   - The finale reflects Zen enlightenment: beyond dualities, all is equanimity.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Resilience in Adversity

• The poem’s core message: face challenges with calm defiance. The rainstorm symbolizes life’s trials, while the poet’s indifference embodies Daoist wu-wei (effortless action).

2. Nature as Teacher

• The wind, rain, and sun mirror life’s impermanence. Su Shi finds wisdom in natural cycles.

3. Non-Attachment

• The last line—"No wind, no rain, no sunshine"—echoes Buddhist detachment, suggesting inner peace transcends external conditions.

Cultural Context

Historical Background

• Written during Su Shi’s exile after the "Crow Terrace Poetry Case" (乌台诗案), where his satirical poems angered the court. His punishment: demotion to Huangzhou.

Philosophical Influences

• Daoism: Harmony with nature, yielding like bamboo in the wind.
• Zen Buddhism: The poem’s conclusion mirrors the idea of emptiness (空, kōng).

Legacy

• This ci exemplifies the "heroic abandon" (豪放派) style, breaking from the era’s sentimental trends.

Conclusion

"Ding Feng Bo" is a masterpiece of stoic optimism, blending lyrical beauty with profound philosophy. Su Shi transforms a rainstorm into a metaphor for life’s unpredictability, teaching us to walk through storms—literal and metaphorical—with grace.

Relevance Today: In a world of constant change, the poem’s call to embrace adversity with humor and humility remains timeless. As Su Shi might say: "Who’s afraid?"

Further Reading: Explore Su Shi’s "Red Cliff Odes" (赤壁赋) for more reflections on nature and human transience.