Analysis of "满庭芳·山抹微云" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem 满庭芳·山抹微云 (Mǎn Tíng Fāng · Shān Mǒ Wēi Yún) was written by Qin Guan (秦观, 1049-1100), a renowned lyric poet of the Northern Song Dynasty. Qin Guan was a key figure of the "Wan Yue School" (婉约派), known for his delicate, sentimental, and emotionally rich poetry. This particular ci (lyric poem) is considered one of his masterpieces, blending melancholic beauty with vivid natural imagery.

The poem reflects the sorrow of parting, a common theme in classical Chinese poetry, but does so with exceptional grace and depth. It captures the fleeting nature of love and the inevitable sadness of separation, set against the backdrop of a misty, dreamlike landscape.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

山抹微云
Shān mǒ wēi yún
Mountains brushed by wispy clouds,

天连衰草
Tiān lián shuāi cǎo
Sky merging with withered grass,

画角声断谯门
Huà jiǎo shēng duàn qiáo mén
The painted horn's sound fades at the watchtower gate.

暂停征棹
Zàn tíng zhēng zhào
Pausing the journeying oar,

聊共引离尊
Liáo gòng yǐn lí zūn
We share a cup of parting wine.

多少蓬莱旧事
Duō shǎo péng lái jiù shì
So many past memories of Penglai,

空回首
Kōng huí shǒu
Vainly looking back—

烟霭纷纷
Yān ǎi fēn fēn
Mist and haze scatter endlessly.

斜阳外
Xié yáng wài
Beyond the setting sun,

寒鸦万点
Hán yā wàn diǎn
Ten thousand cold crows,

流水绕孤村
Liú shuǐ rào gū cūn
A winding stream encircles a lonely village.

销魂
Xiāo hún
Heartbroken,

当此际
Dāng cǐ jì
At this moment,

香囊暗解
Xiāng náng àn jiě
Secretly untying the scented pouch,

罗带轻分
Luó dài qīng fēn
Gently parting the silk sash.

谩赢得
Màn yíng dé
Vainly gaining—

青楼薄幸名存
Qīng lóu bó xìng míng cún
A fickle lover’s name in the pleasure quarters.

此去何时见也
Cǐ qù hé shí jiàn yě
When shall we meet again after this parting?

襟袖上
Jīn xiù shàng
On my lapel and sleeves,

空惹啼痕
Kōng rě tí hén
Only tears leave their traces.

伤情处
Shāng qíng chù
In this sorrowful place,

高城望断
Gāo chéng wàng duàn
Gazing until the high walls fade,

灯火已黄昏
Dēng huǒ yǐ huáng hūn
Lanterns flicker in the dusk.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "Mountains brushed by wispy clouds" – The opening line paints a misty, ethereal landscape, suggesting transience and melancholy. The verb "mǒ" (抹, "to brush lightly") implies a delicate, almost painterly touch.

2. "Sky merging with withered grass" – The fading boundary between earth and sky reflects the speaker’s blurred emotions. The "withered grass" symbolizes decay and the passage of time.

3. "The painted horn's sound fades at the watchtower gate" – The horn’s fading sound signals departure, reinforcing the theme of separation.

4. "Pausing the journeying oar" / "We share a cup of parting wine" – The speaker halts briefly to bid farewell, a poignant moment of lingering before inevitable separation.

5. "So many past memories of Penglai" – Penglai, a mythical island of immortals, represents lost happiness and unattainable dreams.

6. "Mist and haze scatter endlessly" – The mist mirrors the speaker’s confusion and sorrow, obscuring clarity.

7. "Beyond the setting sun, ten thousand cold crows" – The desolate imagery of crows against twilight deepens the mood of loneliness.

8. "A winding stream encircles a lonely village" – The isolated village symbolizes the speaker’s solitude.

9. "Secretly untying the scented pouch" / "Gently parting the silk sash" – These intimate gestures suggest a reluctant farewell between lovers.

10. "Vainly gaining—a fickle lover’s name" – The speaker laments his reputation as an unfaithful man, adding guilt to his sorrow.

11. "When shall we meet again?" – A universal lament of parting, emphasizing uncertainty.

12. "Gazing until the high walls fade" / "Lanterns flicker in the dusk" – The poem ends in twilight, a metaphor for fading hope.

Themes and Symbolism

• Transience and Separation – The poem dwells on the inevitability of parting, heightened by nature’s fleeting beauty (clouds, twilight, mist).
• Love and Regret – The speaker’s sorrow is intertwined with guilt over past indulgences, making the farewell more painful.
• Nature as Emotion – Landscapes mirror inner turmoil—mist obscures clarity, crows evoke loneliness, and dusk signifies an ending.

Key symbols:
- Penglai – Lost paradise, unattainable happiness.
- Withered grass – Decay and the passage of time.
- Cold crows – Desolation and impending darkness.

Cultural Context

Qin Guan wrote during the Northern Song Dynasty, a golden age for ci poetry. His works epitomize the Wan Yue (婉约) style—subtle, emotional, and introspective. This poem reflects Daoist influences in its emphasis on nature’s impermanence and Confucian values in its lament over human relationships.

The imagery of parting was common in Song poetry, often tied to scholars’ travels for official posts or exile. Qin Guan himself faced political setbacks, adding personal weight to his verses.

Conclusion

满庭芳·山抹微云 is a masterpiece of lyrical melancholy, blending delicate imagery with profound emotion. Its depiction of love, loss, and nature’s transient beauty resonates across centuries. For modern readers, it offers a window into the introspective elegance of classical Chinese poetry—where landscapes and emotions intertwine seamlessly.

In an age of haste and distraction, Qin Guan’s verse reminds us to pause, feel deeply, and cherish fleeting moments before they dissolve like mist over distant mountains.