Analysis of "赋得暮雨送李胄" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"赋得暮雨送李胄" (Fù dé mù yǔ sòng Lǐ Zhòu, "Composed on Evening Rain While Seeing Off Li Zhou") is a farewell poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Wei Yingwu (韦应物, 737–792). Wei was known for his refined and understated style, often depicting natural scenery and quiet emotions. This poem exemplifies the Tang Dynasty's tradition of sòngbié shī (送别诗, farewell poetry), where parting was a common theme due to the frequent transfers of officials and scholars across the empire.

The poem captures a melancholic yet serene moment of departure, using the imagery of evening rain to evoke both the beauty of nature and the sorrow of separation. It remains celebrated for its delicate balance of emotion and restraint, a hallmark of classical Chinese poetry.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

楚江微雨里
Chǔ jiāng wēi yǔ lǐ
On the Chu River, in the light rain,

建业暮钟时
Jiàn yè mù zhōng shí
At Jianye, the evening bell tolls.

漠漠帆来重
Mò mò fān lái zhòng
Vast and hazy, the sails approach, heavy with rain,

冥冥鸟去迟
Míng míng niǎo qù chí
Dim and distant, the birds depart, slow in flight.

海门深不见
Hǎi mén shēn bú jiàn
The river's gate to the sea lies unseen,

浦树远含滋
Pǔ shù yuǎn hán zī
The trees on the shore, afar, glisten with moisture.

相送情无限
Xiāng sòng qíng wú xiàn
In seeing you off, my feelings are boundless,

沾襟比散丝
Zhān jīn bǐ sǎn sī
My tears soak my robe, like the scattered threads of rain.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. 楚江微雨里, 建业暮钟时
   The poem opens with a tranquil yet somber scene: the Chu River shrouded in fine rain, while the evening temple bells of Jianye (modern Nanjing) ring in the distance. The "light rain" and "evening bells" set a reflective mood, hinting at the impermanence of human encounters.

2. 漠漠帆来重, 冥冥鸟去迟
   The sails appear "heavy" from the rain, mirroring the emotional weight of parting. The birds flying slowly in the dim light symbolize reluctance—both the traveler's and the poet's hesitation to say goodbye.

3. 海门深不见, 浦树远含滋
   The "river's gate to the sea" (a metaphor for the vast unknown future) is obscured, suggesting uncertainty. The distant trees, glistening with rain, blur into the horizon, reinforcing the theme of separation.

4. 相送情无限, 沾襟比散丝
   The final couplet reveals the poet's grief: his tears mingle with the rain, likened to "scattered threads." This vivid metaphor blends natural and human sorrow, a common technique in Chinese poetry to express deep emotion indirectly.

Themes and Symbolism

• Transience and Farewell: The poem reflects the Chinese philosophical acceptance of impermanence (无常, wúcháng), where partings are inevitable yet deeply felt.
• Nature as Emotion: The rain, birds, and river are not just scenery but extensions of the poet's inner state—melancholy, heaviness, and lingering attachment.
• Restrained Sorrow: Unlike Western farewell poetry, which might express overt despair, Wei Yingwu's grief is quiet, echoing the Confucian ideal of emotional moderation.

Cultural Context

During the Tang Dynasty, farewell poems were often exchanged among scholars and officials, who were frequently reassigned to distant posts. The act of composing poetry was a way to honor friendships and process the sorrow of separation. Wei Yingwu, a government official himself, would have been intimately familiar with these emotions.

The poem also embodies yìjìng (意境, "artistic conception"), where the external landscape and internal feelings merge seamlessly. This technique is central to classical Chinese poetry, aiming to evoke rather than declare emotion.

Conclusion

"赋得暮雨送李胄" is a masterpiece of understated beauty, where every image—the rain-soaked sails, the distant trees, the echoing bells—carries layers of meaning. Its power lies in its quietness; the poet's grief is felt more deeply because it is unspoken, woven into the fabric of the natural world.

For modern readers, the poem resonates as a timeless meditation on parting and the bittersweet nature of human connections. In an age of constant movement, Wei Yingwu's words remind us that farewells, though painful, are also a testament to the depth of our bonds.