Analysis of "韩碑" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"韩碑" (Hán Bēi, "Han Stele") is a famous poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Shangyin (李商隐, c. 813–858), one of the most celebrated literary figures of late Tang poetry. The poem reflects on the Pingzhuan Xili Stele (平淮西碑), a monumental inscription composed by Han Yu (韩愈), a revered Confucian scholar and prose master, to commemorate the Tang government's victory over a rebellious warlord.

Li Shangyin's poem is not just a tribute to Han Yu's literary genius but also a subtle critique of political interference in art. The poem holds significance in Chinese literature for its layered historical commentary, masterful classical allusions, and Li Shangyin’s signature dense, allusive style.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

元和天子神武姿，
Yuánhé tiānzǐ shénwǔ zī,
The Son of Heaven in Yuanhe, majestic and divine,

彼何人哉轩与羲。
Bǐ hérén zāi Xuān yǔ Xī.
Who was his equal but the legendary Xuanyuan and Fuxi?

誓将上雪列圣耻，
Shì jiāng shàng xuě liè shèng chǐ,
He vowed to wash away the shame of past emperors,

坐法宫中朝四夷。
Zuò fǎ gōng zhōng cháo sìyí.
Sitting in the palace, receiving tribute from all lands.

淮西有贼五十载，
Huáixī yǒu zéi wǔshí zǎi,
For fifty years, rebels plagued Huaixi,

封狼生貙貙生罴。
Fēng láng shēng chū chū shēng pí.
Like wolves breeding fierce leopards, leopards breeding bears.

不据山河据平地，
Bù jù shānhé jù píngdì,
Not holding mountains or rivers, but the open plains,

长戈利矛日可麾。
Cháng gē lì máo rì kě huī.
Their long spears and sharp halberds challenging the sun.

(The full poem is longer, but for brevity, we focus on the opening stanzas.)

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "元和天子神武姿" – The poem opens with praise for Emperor Xianzong of Tang (r. 805–820), whose reign name was Yuanhe. The comparison to Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) and Fuxi, mythical sage-kings, elevates him to near-divine status.

2. "誓将上雪列圣耻" – The emperor vows to avenge past humiliations, referencing earlier Tang emperors who failed to suppress rebellions.

3. "淮西有贼五十载" – The Huaixi rebellion (lasting decades) is described with animal imagery (wolves, leopards, bears), symbolizing escalating brutality.

4. "长戈利矛日可麾" – The rebels’ weapons are so mighty they seem to "challenge the sun", hyperbole emphasizing their threat.

(The later stanzas describe Han Yu’s stele being destroyed due to political jealousy, then restored—a metaphor for the endurance of truth.)

Themes and Symbolism

1. The Power of Literature

Han Yu’s stele was meant to immortalize the emperor’s victory, but it was torn down by rivals. Li Shangyin suggests that true art outlasts political meddling.

2. Historical Legacy

The poem contrasts short-lived political power with the permanence of great writing, a Confucian ideal.

3. Animal Symbolism

The wolf-leopard-bear metaphor depicts rebellion as a self-perpetuating scourge, deepening the urgency of imperial unity.

Cultural Context

• Han Yu’s Stele: Commissioned to celebrate the 817 victory over Huaixi, it was destroyed after warlords protested its portrayal. Later reinstated, it became a symbol of literary integrity.
• Li Shangyin’s Era: The late Tang Dynasty was plagued by factional strife. The poem subtly critiques court corruption.
• Confucian Values: The poem upholds the scholar’s duty to record history truthfully, despite political pressure.

Conclusion

"韩碑" is more than a historical narrative—it’s a meditation on art’s resilience against power. Li Shangyin’s intricate allusions and vivid imagery make it a masterpiece of classical poetry. Today, its message resonates wherever truth battles censorship, proving the timelessness of great literature.

For readers exploring Chinese poetry, "韩碑" offers a window into Tang Dynasty politics, Confucian ideals, and the enduring power of the written word.