Analysis of "井底引银瓶" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"井底引银瓶" (Jǐng dǐ yǐn yín píng, "Drawing a Silver Vase from the Well Bottom") is a folk-style poem attributed to Bai Juyi (白居易), a renowned Tang Dynasty poet known for his accessible and socially conscious works. Written in the 9th century, this poem reflects Bai Juyi's focus on the struggles of ordinary people, particularly women, in feudal China.

The poem tells the tragic story of a young woman who elopes with her lover, only to face rejection and societal scorn. It became a cultural touchstone, inspiring later operas and proverbs (e.g., "井底引银瓶，银瓶欲上丝绳绝" — a metaphor for doomed love). Its themes of love, freedom, and patriarchal oppression remain strikingly relevant.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

井底引银瓶
Jǐng dǐ yǐn yín píng
Drawing a silver vase from the well bottom,

银瓶欲上丝绳绝
Yín píng yù shàng sī shéng jué
The silk rope snaps as the vase nears the rim.

石上磨玉簪
Shí shàng mó yù zān
Grinding a jade hairpin on stone,

玉簪欲成中央折
Yù zān yù chéng zhōng yāng zhé
The pin breaks in half just before completion.

瓶沉簪折知奈何
Píng chén zān zhé zhī nài hé
The vase sinks, the pin snaps—what can be done?

似妾今朝与君别
Sì qiè jīn zhāo yǔ jūn bié
Like me, today, forced to part from you.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. The Broken Rope (Lines 1–2)
   The "silver vase" symbolizes the woman’s purity and value, while the "silk rope" represents fragile societal bonds. The snapping rope foreshadows her doomed attempt to rise above her circumstances.

2. The Shattered Hairpin (Lines 3–4)
   Jade hairpins were bridal gifts in Tang China. The pin breaking "just before completion" mirrors how her marriage is destroyed by external forces (likely her family’s disapproval).

3. The Inevitable Farewell (Lines 5–6)
   The parallel imagery of the vase sinking and the pin breaking underscores helplessness. "What can be done?" reflects the limited agency of women in Confucian society.

Themes and Symbolism

• Doomed Love: The poem critiques rigid social hierarchies. The woman’s elopement defies tradition, but she cannot escape societal judgment.
• Fragility of Freedom: The vase and pin symbolize beauty and potential, but both are destroyed by unseen forces (the well’s depth, the stone’s hardness).
• Feminine Suffering: Bai Juyi often highlighted women’s struggles. The speaker’s resignation ("what can be done?") reveals systemic oppression.

Cultural Context

• Tang Dynasty Marriage Norms: Women who eloped were labeled "unchaste" and banished from their families. Bai Juyi, a government official, used poetry to critique such injustices.
• Confucian Values: Filial piety and social order often overrode individual happiness. The poem’s ending—abrupt and unresolved—challenges these norms.
• Folk Tradition: The poem’s simple language and repetitive structure mimic oral storytelling, making it accessible to the common people.

Conclusion

"井底引银瓶" is a masterclass in economical tragedy. In just six lines, Bai Juyi captures the collision of personal desire and societal cruelty. The broken objects—vase, pin, rope—become universal symbols for thwarted hope.

Today, the poem resonates as a reminder of love’s fragility in the face of prejudice. Its enduring power lies in its quiet defiance: by giving voice to an unnamed woman, Bai Juyi immortalizes her struggle and invites readers to question the "wells" and "stones" of their own societies.

"What can be done?" The poem leaves us haunted—and inspired to seek answers.*