Analysis of "八月十五夜赠张功曹" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "八月十五夜赠张功曹" (Mid-Autumn Night Gift to Zhang Gongcao) was written by Han Yu (韩愈, 768–824), a prominent Tang Dynasty poet, essayist, and philosopher. Han Yu is often regarded as one of the "Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song," known for his classical prose revival and Confucian ideals.

This poem was composed during Han Yu's political exile, reflecting his frustration with court politics while maintaining a deep friendship with Zhang Gongcao (Zhang Shu). The Mid-Autumn Festival (August 15th in the lunar calendar) is a time for family reunions, making the poem's themes of separation and longing particularly poignant. It stands as a significant work in Chinese literature for its emotional depth and philosophical undertones.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

八月十五夜赠张功曹
Bā yuè shí wǔ yè zèng Zhāng Gōngcáo
Mid-Autumn Night Gift to Zhang Gongcao

纤云四卷天无河
Xiān yún sì juǎn tiān wú hé
Thin clouds roll back, the Milky Way unseen,

清风吹空月舒波
Qīng fēng chuī kōng yuè shū bō
A clear breeze fills the sky, moonlight ripples afar.

沙平水息声影绝
Shā píng shuǐ xī shēng yǐng jué
Sands lie flat, waters still—no sound, no shadow,

一杯相属君当歌
Yī bēi xiāng zhǔ jūn dāng gē
I raise a cup to you—now sing for me.

君歌声酸辞且苦
Jūn gē shēng suān cí qiě kǔ
Your song is bitter, words full of sorrow,

不能听终泪如雨
Bù néng tīng zhōng lèi rú yǔ
Before it ends, my tears fall like rain.

洞庭连天九疑高
Dòngtíng lián tiān jiǔ yí gāo
Dongting Lake meets the sky, Jiuyi Mountains loom high,

蛟龙出没猩鼯号
Jiāo lóng chū mò xīng wú háo
Dragons surface, apes and flying squirrels wail.

十生九死到官所
Shí shēng jiǔ sǐ dào guān suǒ
Through life and death I reached this post,

幽居默默如藏逃
Yōu jū mò mò rú cáng táo
Living in silence, like a fugitive in hiding.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "Thin clouds roll back, the Milky Way unseen"
   The opening sets a vast, quiet night scene. The absence of the Milky Way suggests obscured clarity, mirroring Han Yu’s political disillusionment.

2. "A clear breeze fills the sky, moonlight ripples afar"
   The breeze and moonlight symbolize fleeting beauty and hope, contrasting with the poet’s inner turmoil.

3. "Sands lie flat, waters still—no sound, no shadow"
   The stillness amplifies loneliness, a common theme in exile poetry. The landscape mirrors emotional desolation.

4. "I raise a cup to you—now sing for me"
   A gesture of camaraderie. The Mid-Autumn Festival traditionally celebrates unity, making this request bittersweet.

5. "Your song is bitter, words full of sorrow"
   Zhang’s song reflects shared suffering. The "bitterness" (酸, suān) conveys emotional and physical hardship.

6. "Before it ends, my tears fall like rain"
   The simile underscores profound grief. The "rain" of tears parallels the festival’s moonlit beauty, creating irony.

7. "Dongting Lake meets the sky, Jiuyi Mountains loom high"
   The vastness of nature dwarfs human struggles. Dongting and Jiuyi were near Han Yu’s exile location, emphasizing isolation.

8. "Dragons surface, apes and flying squirrels wail"
   Mythical and real creatures symbolize danger and wilderness, reflecting the peril of exile.

9. "Through life and death I reached this post"
   Hyperbole ("ten lives, nine deaths") stresses the journey’s brutality.

10. "Living in silence, like a fugitive in hiding"
    The final line reveals shame and helplessness. "Silence" (默默, mòmò) contrasts with the festival’s usual joy.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Exile and Suffering
   The poem explores the Confucian scholar’s plight when unjustly banished. Nature’s indifference (mountains, lakes) highlights human vulnerability.

2. Friendship as Solace
   The act of sharing a cup and song underscores loyalty, a Confucian virtue. The bond between Han Yu and Zhang transcends their suffering.

3. Mid-Autumn Irony
   The festival’s symbolism of reunion clashes with the poets’ separation, deepening the sense of loss.

Key Symbols:
- Moonlight: Ephemeral hope amid darkness.
- Dragons/Apes: Chaos and untamed forces opposing the civilized scholar.
- Cup of Wine: A fragile connection to humanity and tradition.

Cultural Context

1. Tang Dynasty Politics
   Han Yu was exiled for criticizing Emperor Xianzong’s lavish spending on a Buddhist relic. His plight reflects tensions between Confucian officials and imperial power.

2. Mid-Autumn Festival
   The festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiū Jié) centers on moon-gazing and family. Han Yu’s poem subverts this, showing how exile disrupts cultural rituals.

3. Confucian Ideals
   The poem embodies youhuan yishi (忧患意识, "consciousness of hardship"), a Confucian belief that adversity tests moral character.

Conclusion

"八月十五夜赠张功曹" is a masterpiece of emotional restraint and lyrical depth. Han Yu transforms personal grief into universal reflections on resilience, friendship, and the clash between ideals and reality.

For modern readers, the poem resonates as a reminder of art’s power to articulate suffering and preserve dignity in adversity. Its interplay of natural imagery and raw emotion offers a timeless window into Chinese literary tradition.

Final thought: In an age of displacement and uncertainty, Han Yu’s words remind us that even in exile, the human spirit finds ways to connect—through poetry, shared cups, and the ever-watchful moon.