Analysis of "红线毯" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "红线毯" (Hóng Xiàn Tǎn, "Red Thread Carpet") is a famous work by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi (白居易, 772–846). Bai Juyi was a leading figure of the New Yuefu Movement (新乐府运动), which emphasized writing poetry that reflected social realities and criticized injustice.

"红线毯" is a protest poem condemning the extravagance of the imperial court, which demanded luxurious woven carpets from Xuanzhou (宣州) at great cost to the people. The poem highlights Bai Juyiyi's humanitarian concerns and his skill in blending social commentary with vivid imagery.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

红线毯
Hóng xiàn tǎn
Red Thread Carpet

择茧缫丝清水煮，拣丝练线红蓝染。
Zé jiǎn sāo sī qīng shuǐ zhǔ, jiǎn sī liàn xiàn hóng lán rǎn.
Selecting cocoons, boiling silk in clear water,
Sorting threads, dyeing them red with madder.

染为红线红于蓝，织作披香殿上毯。
Rǎn wéi hóng xiàn hóng yú lán, zhī zuò pī xiāng diàn shàng tǎn.
Dyed red, redder than the madder plant,
Woven into carpets for the Fragrant Hall.

披香殿广十丈余，红线织成可殿铺。
Pī xiāng diàn guǎng shí zhàng yú, hóng xiàn zhī chéng kě diàn pū.
The Fragrant Hall spans over ten zhang,
The red-thread carpet covers its expanse.

彩丝茸茸香拂拂，线软花虚不胜物。
Cǎi sī róng róng xiāng fú fú, xiàn ruǎn huā xū bù shèng wù.
Soft, downy threads, fragrant and delicate,
So tender the flowers seem weightless.

美人蹋上歌舞来，罗袜绣鞋随步没。
Měi rén tà shàng gē wǔ lái, luó wà xiù xié suí bù mò.
Beauties step upon it, singing and dancing,
Their silken socks and embroidered shoes sinking in.

太原毯涩毳缕硬，蜀都褥薄锦花冷。
Tài yuán tǎn sè cuì lǚ yìng, shǔ dū rù báo jǐn huā lěng.
Taiyuan carpets are rough with coarse wool,
Shu brocade mats are thin and cold.

不如此毯温且柔，年年十月来宣州。
Bù rú cǐ tǎn wēn qiě róu, nián nián shí yuè lái xuān zhōu.
None compare to this carpet’s warmth and softness,
Year after year, in October, it comes to Xuanzhou.

宣州太守加样织，自谓为臣能竭力。
Xuān zhōu tài shǒu jiā yàng zhī, zì wèi wéi chén néng jié lì.
The governor of Xuanzhou weaves new patterns,
Proud of his service to the throne.

百夫同担进宫中，线厚丝多卷不得。
Bǎi fū tóng dān jìn gōng zhōng, xiàn hòu sī duō juǎn bù dé.
A hundred men carry it into the palace,
So thick with silk it cannot be rolled.

宣州太守知不知？一丈毯，千两丝！
Xuān zhōu tài shǒu zhī bù zhī? Yī zhàng tǎn, qiān liǎng sī!
Does the governor of Xuanzhou not know?
One zhang of carpet—a thousand taels of silk!

地不知寒人要暖，少夺人衣作地衣。
Dì bù zhī hán rén yào nuǎn, shǎo duó rén yī zuò dì yī.
The earth feels no cold, but people need warmth—
Stop stealing clothes from the poor to carpet the ground!

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. The Process of Making the Carpet (Lines 1–4)
   The poem begins by detailing the labor-intensive process of dyeing and weaving the carpet. The vivid description of boiling silk and dyeing threads emphasizes the craftsmanship—and hidden suffering—behind the luxury.

2. The Extravagance of the Court (Lines 5–8)
   The carpet is so soft that dancers' feet sink into it, a metaphor for the court’s decadence. The comparison with inferior carpets from Taiyuan and Shu underscores the emperor’s preference for wasteful luxury.

3. The Governor’s Complicity (Lines 9–12)
   The governor of Xuanzhou takes pride in supplying these carpets, ignoring the human cost. The image of a hundred men struggling to carry the unrollable carpet highlights its absurd excess.

4. The Final Rebuke (Lines 13–14)
   Bai Juyi delivers a scathing critique: while the poor suffer from cold, the court wastes silk on floor coverings. The last line is a direct plea for justice.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Social Injustice
   The poem condemns the exploitation of laborers for imperial luxury. The "red thread" symbolizes both beauty and blood—the toil of the people.

2. Hypocrisy of Power
   The governor’s pride in serving the throne contrasts with his indifference to the people’s suffering. The carpet becomes a symbol of corruption.

3. Compassion for the Poor
   Bai Juyi’s closing lines reflect Confucian ideals of benevolent governance, urging rulers to prioritize people’s welfare over vanity.

Cultural Context

• Tang Dynasty Excess
  The Tang Dynasty (618–907) was a golden age of culture but also saw extreme wealth disparity. Bai Juyi’s New Yuefu poems often exposed such issues.

• Role of Poetry in Society
  Bai Juyi believed poetry should serve moral and political purposes. "红线毯" was meant to provoke empathy and reform.

• Legacy of Protest Literature
  This poem is part of a long tradition of Chinese literature critiquing oppression, akin to Du Fu’s "The Ballad of the Army Carts."

Conclusion

"红线毯" remains a powerful indictment of greed and indifference. Bai Juyi’s blend of beauty and moral urgency makes the poem timeless—a reminder that art should speak for the voiceless. Today, its message resonates in discussions of inequality and ethical leadership.

Final Thought: The "red thread" is more than silk; it’s the thread of conscience, asking who pays the price for luxury.