Analysis of "后赤壁赋" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The Second Ode to the Red Cliff (后赤壁赋, Hòu Chìbì Fù) is a masterpiece by Su Shi (苏轼, 1037–1101), one of China's greatest poets and essayists of the Song Dynasty. Written in 1082 during his political exile, this prose-poem reflects on a nighttime excursion to the Red Cliff, a famous historical battlefield. Unlike its predecessor (First Ode to the Red Cliff), this work carries a more mystical and introspective tone, blending Daoist philosophy with sublime natural imagery. It stands as a pinnacle of Chinese literary art, showcasing Su Shi's ability to transform personal melancholy into transcendent beauty.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

是岁十月之望，步自雪堂，将归于临皋。
Shì suì shí yuè zhī wàng, bù zì Xuě Táng, jiāng guī yú Lín Gāo.
In the tenth month of that year, on the night of the full moon, I walked from Snow Hall, intending to return to Lingao.

二客从予过黄泥之坂。
Èr kè cóng yǔ guò Huángní zhī bǎn.
Two friends accompanied me past the Yellow Mud Slope.

霜露既降，木叶尽脱，人影在地，仰见明月。
Shuānglù jì jiàng, mùyè jǐn tuō, rényǐng zài dì, yǎng jiàn míngyuè.
Frost and dew had fallen, all leaves had shed; our shadows lay on the ground as we gazed up at the bright moon.

顾而乐之，行歌相答。
Gù ér lè zhī, xíng gē xiāng dá.
Pleased by the sight, we strolled and sang in response to each other.

已而叹曰："有客无酒，有酒无肴，月白风清，如此良夜何？"
Yǐ ér tàn yuē: "Yǒu kè wú jiǔ, yǒu jiǔ wú yáo, yuè bái fēng qīng, rúcǐ liáng yè hé?"
Then I sighed: "We have guests but no wine, wine but no dishes—what shall we do with this moonlit breeze, such a fine night?"

客曰："今者薄暮，举网得鱼，巨口细鳞，状如松江之鲈。"
Kè yuē: "Jīn zhě bómù, jǔ wǎng dé yú, jù kǒu xì lín, zhuàng rú Sōngjiāng zhī lú."
A guest replied: "At dusk today, I cast a net and caught a fish—large-mouthed with fine scales, like the perch of Songjiang."

顾安所得酒乎？
Gù ān suǒ dé jiǔ hū?
But where might we find wine?

归而谋诸妇。
Guī ér móu zhū fù.
I returned home to consult my wife.

妇曰："我有斗酒，藏之久矣，以待子不时之需。"
Fù yuē: "Wǒ yǒu dǒu jiǔ, cáng zhī jiǔ yǐ, yǐ dài zǐ bùshí zhī xū."
She said: "I have a jug of wine, stored long for your unexpected needs."

(Note: This is an excerpt; the full text continues with the boat excursion and mystical crane encounter.)

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. Frost and Moonlight Imagery: The opening lines paint a wintry scene where "frost and dew had fallen" and "all leaves had shed," creating a sense of temporal transition. The bright moon casts clear shadows—a classic Chinese literary motif symbolizing clarity amid life's transience.

2. Dialogue of Lack and Abundance: The poet's lament about having no wine or dishes contrasts with the spontaneous gifts (fish from the guest, wine from his wife), illustrating Daoist wuwei (无为)—effortless harmony with the universe.

3. The Perch of Songjiang: This reference connects to Zhang Han (张翰), a Jin Dynasty official who resigned to return home for this delicacy—a metaphor for Su Shi's own exiled longing for simpler joys.

4. Wife's Hidden Wine: The wife's foresight to store wine mirrors the Daoist ideal of preparedness without striving. Her role is notable in classical literature, where women often symbolize practical wisdom.

Themes and Symbolism

• Transience and Eternity: The autumn decay (fallen leaves) contrasts with the eternal moon, reflecting Buddhist-Daoist views on impermanence.
• Solitude vs. Companionship: The poet moves between loneliness (initial sigh) and communal joy (shared fish and wine), embodying Confucian relational harmony.
• The Mystical Crane: Later in the full text, a crane appears—a Daoist symbol of immortality—suggesting spiritual transcendence beyond political strife.

Cultural Context

Written during Su Shi's exile to Huangzhou after the "Crow Terrace Poetry Case" (乌台诗案), this work turns adversity into artistic triumph. The Red Cliff (Chibi) was where the legendary Three Kingdoms battle occurred (208 CE), allowing Su Shi to meditate on history's fleeting glories. His blending of shi (诗, poetry) and fu (赋, rhymed prose) exemplifies Song Dynasty literary innovation. The text's Daoist undertones reflect how exiled scholars often sought solace in nature and philosophy.

Conclusion

Second Ode to the Red Cliff remains a timeless meditation on finding joy in life's uncertainties. Su Shi transforms a simple nighttime stroll into a cosmic dance between lack and abundance, the mundane and the divine. For modern readers, it offers a model of resilience—how creativity can flourish even in exile. As the poet writes elsewhere: "The moon dips, the stars fade, / A crane’s shadow crosses the river" (月明星稀，乌鹊南飞)—a fleeting moment made eternal through art.