Analysis of "行路难·金樽清酒斗十千" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"行路难·金樽清酒斗十千" (Xíng Lù Nán: Jīn Zūn Qīng Jiǔ Dǒu Shí Qiān, "Hard Roads: Golden Cups of Clear Wine Cost Ten Thousand") is one of the most famous poems by Li Bai (李白), a legendary Tang Dynasty poet (701–762 CE). Known as the "Immortal Poet" (Shī Xiān), Li Bai’s works are celebrated for their romanticism, vivid imagery, and emotional depth.

This poem reflects Li Bai’s personal struggles and disillusionment during a turbulent period in his life. Despite his talent, he faced political rejection and wandering exile. "行路难" belongs to the yuefu (乐府) tradition—a style of folk-inspired poetry—and captures the universal human experience of hardship and resilience.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

行路难·其一 (Xíng Lù Nán: Qí Yī, "Hard Roads: Part One")

金樽清酒斗十千
Jīn zūn qīng jiǔ dǒu shí qiān
Golden cups of clear wine, ten thousand coins a cask,

玉盘珍羞直万钱
Yù pán zhēn xiū zhí wàn qián
Jade plates of rare delicacies worth fortunes.

停杯投箸不能食
Tíng bēi tóu zhù bù néng shí
I set down my cup and chopsticks, unable to eat,

拔剑四顾心茫然
Bá jiàn sì gù xīn máng rán
Drawing my sword, I gaze around, my heart lost.

欲渡黄河冰塞川
Yù dù Huáng Hé bīng sè chuān
I long to cross the Yellow River, but ice chokes its flow,

将登太行雪满山
Jiāng dēng Tài Háng xuě mǎn shān
To climb Taihang Mountains, yet snow buries the peaks.

闲来垂钓碧溪上
Xián lái chuí diào bì xī shàng
Idly, I might fish by an emerald stream,

忽复乘舟梦日边
Hū fù chéng zhōu mèng rì biān
Or dream of sailing to the sun’s edge.

行路难！行路难！
Xíng lù nán! Xíng lù nán!
Hard roads! Hard roads!

多歧路，今安在？
Duō qí lù, jīn ān zài?
So many forks—where is the true path now?

长风破浪会有时
Cháng fēng pò làng huì yǒu shí
A time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves,

直挂云帆济沧海
Zhí guà yún fān jì cāng hǎi
Hoist high my cloud-like sail to cross the vast sea.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. Luxury and Restlessness (Lines 1–4)
   The poem opens with extravagant imagery—golden cups, jade plates—symbolizing wealth and privilege. Yet, the speaker is too troubled to enjoy them. The act of drawing a sword suggests frustration and a search for purpose.

2. Nature as Obstacle (Lines 5–6)
   The frozen Yellow River and snowbound Taihang Mountains represent insurmountable barriers, mirroring Li Bai’s thwarted political ambitions.

3. Escapism and Hope (Lines 7–10)
   The references to fishing (alluding to the recluse Jiang Ziya) and sailing to the sun (a myth about reaching enlightenment) reveal a tension between withdrawal and yearning for greatness.

4. The Climactic Cry (Lines 11–14)
   The repetition of "行路难!" emphasizes despair, but the ending shifts to resolve. The "cloud-like sail" metaphor reflects Daoist ideals of transcending earthly struggles.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Struggle and Resilience
   The poem embodies the Confucian-Daoist duality: societal duty versus spiritual freedom. Li Bai acknowledges hardship but clings to hope.

2. Nature’s Dual Role
   Mountains and rivers are both obstacles and symbols of liberation, reflecting the poet’s conflicted emotions.

3. The Journey Motif
   "Hard roads" (xíng lù nán) is a metaphor for life’s challenges, a recurring theme in Chinese literature.

Cultural Context

• Tang Dynasty Politics: Li Bai’s exile resulted from court intrigues. His poem resonates with scholars who faced similar disillusionment.
• Daoist Influence: The dream of sailing to the sun echoes Daoist quests for immortality and harmony with nature.
• Literary Legacy: This poem inspired later writers to blend personal grief with cosmic imagery, a hallmark of Chinese lyric poetry.

Conclusion

"行路难·金樽清酒斗十千" is a masterpiece of emotional depth and artistic brilliance. Its portrayal of despair turning into determination speaks across centuries and cultures. For modern readers, Li Bai’s words remind us that adversity is universal—but so is the capacity to rise above it, "riding the wind" toward our own horizons.

"The true path is not always straight, but the journey itself holds the light."