Analysis of "醉太平·讥贪小利者" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"醉太平·讥贪小利者" (Zuì Tàipíng·Jī Tān Xiǎolì Zhě, "Drunk in Peace·Mocking the Petty Profiteers") is a satirical ci (lyric poetry) written by the Yuan dynasty poet Anonymous (though sometimes attributed to various Yuan poets). Composed during the 13th–14th century, this poem critiques the greed and moral decay of petty opportunists who exploit others for trivial gains.

The Yuan dynasty, ruled by the Mongols, was a time of social upheaval and corruption, making satire a powerful literary tool. This poem stands out for its biting humor and vivid imagery, embodying the sanqu (散曲) tradition—a free-spirited, vernacular style of poetry that flourished in the Yuan era.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

夺泥燕口，削铁针头，
Duó ní yàn kǒu, xiāo tiě zhēn tóu,
Plunder mud from a swallow’s beak, shave slivers from a needle’s iron,

刮金佛面细搜求，无中觅有。
Guā jīn fó miàn xì sōu qiú, wú zhōng mì yǒu.
Scrape gold from a Buddha’s face, combing for the tiniest speck—fabricating gain from nothing.

鹌鹑嗉里寻豌豆，鹭鸶腿上劈精肉，
Ānchún sù lǐ xún wāndòu, lùsī tuǐ shàng pī jīng ròu,
Dig peas from a quail’s crop, slice lean meat from a heron’s legs,

蚊子腹内刳脂油。
Wénzi fù nèi kū zhī yóu.
Gouge fat from a mosquito’s belly.

亏老先生下手！
Kuī lǎo xiānshēng xiàshǒu!
Ah, such "skill" you wield, old sir!

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. Plunder mud from a swallow’s beak...
   The poem opens with absurd imagery—stealing mud from a bird’s mouth or shaving metal from a needle. These hyperbolic acts mock the extreme pettiness of greedy individuals who exploit even the smallest resources.

2. Scrape gold from a Buddha’s face...
   Buddha statues were often gilded, but scraping them for gold is sacrilegious. The poet highlights moral bankruptcy: the profiteer disregards spirituality for material gain.

3. Dig peas from a quail’s crop...
   The satire escalates with ludicrous scenarios: extracting food from a tiny bird or carving meat from a heron’s slender legs. These images emphasize the exploiter’s relentless, almost comical cruelty.

4. Gouge fat from a mosquito’s belly...
   The climax—a mosquito’s minuscule "fat" is an impossible target, underscoring the greed’s absurdity. The poet’s tone is scathing, blending dark humor with outrage.

5. Ah, such "skill" you wield...
   The final line drips with sarcasm. "老先生" (lǎo xiānshēng, "old sir") is a faux-respectful address, mocking the profiteer’s "talent" for exploitation.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Critique of Greed

The poem exposes how unchecked greed drives people to irrational, even immoral extremes. The profiteer’s actions are not just selfish but pointlessly destructive—like harming a mosquito for nonexistent profit.

2. Absurdity and Hyperbole

The exaggerated imagery (e.g., a heron’s legs, a mosquito’s fat) serves as satire. By magnifying pettiness to ridiculous degrees, the poet reveals the folly of such behavior.

3. Moral Decay

The reference to scraping gold from a Buddha ties greed to spiritual degradation. In Confucian and Buddhist traditions, exploiting sacred objects symbolizes a collapse of ethics.

Cultural Context

Yuan Dynasty Satire

The Yuan dynasty’s Mongol rulers often marginalized Han Chinese scholars, pushing some poets toward sanqu—a playful, vernacular style that could critique society covertly. This poem’s humor allowed it to skewer corruption without direct confrontation.

Chinese Values

The poem reflects Confucian disdain for greed and Daoist ideals of moderation. The profiteer’s actions violate both: he disrupts harmony (Daoism) and lacks ren (benevolence, Confucianism).

Conclusion

"醉太平·讥贪小利者" is a masterpiece of Yuan-era satire, using grotesque humor to condemn greed. Its exaggerated imagery remains startlingly vivid, and its message—warning against the corrosive pursuit of petty gains—resonates across cultures today.

In an age of consumerism, the poem reminds us: exploitation, even in small doses, diminishes our humanity. As the poet jeers, Ah, such "skill" you wield!—a timeless rebuke to shortsighted selfishness.