Analysis of "母别子" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "母别子" (Mother Parts from Her Son) is a poignant work by the renowned Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi (白居易, 772-846). Known for his socially conscious poetry written in accessible language, Bai Juyi frequently addressed themes of human suffering and social injustice. This particular poem reflects the Confucian values of family bonds while critiquing the heartbreak caused by feudal society's practices. It stands as one of the most moving depictions of maternal love in Chinese literature.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

母别子

mǔ bié zǐ

Mother parts from her son

子别母

zǐ bié mǔ

Son parts from his mother

白日无光哭声苦

bái rì wú guāng kū shēng kǔ

The sun loses its light to their bitter cries

关西骠骑大将军

guān xī piào qí dà jiàng jūn

The great cavalry general west of the Pass

去年破虏新策勋

qù nián pò lǔ xīn cè xūn

Last year crushed the barbarians, newly honored

敕赐金钱二百万

chì cì jīn qián èr bǎi wàn

The emperor bestowed two million in gold

洛阳迎得如花人

luò yáng yíng dé rú huā rén

To Luoyang he brought a flower-like beauty

新人迎来旧人弃

xīn rén yíng lái jiù rén qì

The new love welcomed, the old cast aside

掌上莲花眼中刺

zhǎng shàng lián huā yǎn zhōng cì

Lotus in palm becomes thorn in eye

迎新弃旧未足悲

yíng xīn qì jiù wèi zú bēi

Welcoming new, discarding old - not the worst sorrow

悲在君家留两儿

bēi zài jūn jiā liú liǎng ér

The grief lies in leaving two children at your house

一始扶行一初坐

yī shǐ fú xíng yī chū zuò

One just learning to walk, one barely sitting

坐啼行哭牵人衣

zuò tí xíng kū qiān rén yī

Sitting they wail, walking they weep, clutching at clothes

以汝夫妇新燕婉

yǐ rǔ fū fù xīn yàn wǎn

That you newlyweds may enjoy your bliss

使我母子生别离

shǐ wǒ mǔ zǐ shēng bié lí

Forces us mother and child to part while living

不如林中乌与鹊

bù rú lín zhōng wū yǔ què

We're worse off than crows and magpies in the woods

母不失雏雄伴雌

mǔ bù shī chú xióng bàn cí

Where mothers keep their young and mates stay paired

应似园中桃李树

yīng sì yuán zhōng táo lǐ shù

We should be like peach and plum trees in the garden

花落随风子在枝

huā luò suí fēng zǐ zài zhī

Where blossoms may fall but fruit remains on boughs

新人新人听我语

xīn rén xīn rén tīng wǒ yǔ

New love, new love, listen to my words

洛阳无限红楼女

luò yáng wú xiàn hóng lóu nǚ

Luoyang has countless tower-dwelling beauties

但愿将军重立功

dàn yuàn jiāng jūn chóng lì gōng

I only hope the general wins more honors

更有新人胜于汝

gèng yǒu xīn rén shèng yú rǔ

That an even newer love might surpass you

Line-by-Line Analysis

The opening lines establish the central tragedy - a mother being forcibly separated from her children. The image of "the sun losing its light" powerfully conveys how this separation darkens the natural world itself.

Bai Juyi then introduces the cause: a military general (lines 4-6) who, after being rewarded for his victories, abandons his wife for a younger woman in Luoyang, the eastern capital. The contrast between "lotus in palm" (cherished) and "thorn in eye" (rejected) vividly captures the wife's changed status.

The most heartbreaking section describes the abandoned children (lines 11-14) - one barely walking, the other just sitting - clinging to their mother's clothes. Bai Juyi's simple language makes the scene more devastating.

The poet then employs nature imagery to highlight the unnaturalness of this separation. Unlike birds who stay with mates and offspring, or fruit trees that keep their fruit after blossoms fall, human society permits this cruel separation (lines 15-22).

The closing lines contain bitter irony as the rejected wife warns the new woman that she too may someday be replaced - a cyclical tragedy of feudal marriage practices.

Themes and Symbolism

Maternal Love vs. Social Injustice: The poem contrasts the pure bond between mother and child with the heartless social customs that sever it. The children's helplessness amplifies the pathos.

Nature's Wisdom: The birds and trees symbolize natural harmony and fidelity, implicitly criticizing human society's unnatural practices.

Cyclical Suffering: The ending suggests this tragedy will repeat, as the "new woman" will likely face the same fate, making the poem a broader social critique.

Light/Dark Imagery: The sun's dimming represents how moral darkness follows this abandonment, while the "red tower women" symbolize the fleeting nature of beauty and favor.

Cultural Context

Written during the Tang Dynasty's golden age (8th century), this poem reflects several social realities:

1. Polygamy: High-ranking officials could take multiple wives/concubines, often discarding older ones.

2. Patriarchal Power: Children typically remained with the father's household after divorce.

3. Military Culture: Successful generals gained wealth and status, often leading to domestic upheaval.

Bai Juyi, as a Confucian scholar, emphasizes the violation of core values: family harmony (家和), maternal bonds (孝道), and spousal fidelity. The poem also critiques the excesses of the aristocratic class, a common theme in Bai Juyi's "New Yuefu" social commentary poems.

Conclusion

"母别子" remains profoundly moving because it transcends its historical context to speak universally about a mother's love and the trauma of separation. Bai Juyi's genius lies in using simple, direct language to deliver a devastating emotional impact while making a sophisticated social critique.

The poem's enduring relevance lies in its exploration of how societal structures can institutionalize human suffering - a theme that resonates across cultures and eras. Through this lament of a nameless mother, Bai Juyi gives voice to all who suffer from broken family bonds, making "母别子" a timeless masterpiece of Chinese literature.