Analysis of "摸鱼儿·更能消几番风雨" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem Mò Yú Ér·Gèng Néng Xiāo Jǐ Fān Fēng Yǔ (摸鱼儿·更能消几番风雨) was written by Xin Qiji (辛弃疾, 1140–1207), a prominent poet and military leader of the Southern Song Dynasty. Known for his ci (lyric poetry) style, Xin Qiji often expressed themes of patriotism, sorrow, and resilience. This particular poem is a masterpiece of classical Chinese literature, blending personal melancholy with broader concerns about the fate of the nation. Written during a time of political turmoil and foreign invasions, it reflects the poet's deep frustration and longing for a stronger China.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

摸鱼儿·更能消几番风雨
Mò Yú Ér·Gèng Néng Xiāo Jǐ Fān Fēng Yǔ
To the Tune of "Groping for Fish" – How Many More Storms Can It Endure?

更能消、几番风雨，匆匆春又归去。
Gèng néng xiāo, jǐ fān fēngyǔ, cōngcōng chūn yòu guī qù.
How many more storms can it endure? Spring hurries away once again.

惜春长怕花开早，何况落红无数。
Xī chūn cháng pà huā kāi zǎo, hékuàng luò hóng wúshù.
Loving spring, I always fear flowers bloom too soon—how much more now, with countless petals fallen?

春且住，见说道、天涯芳草无归路。
Chūn qiě zhù, jiàn shuō dào, tiānyá fāngcǎo wú guī lù.
O spring, please stay! I’ve heard fragrant grass covers the horizon—no path for your return.

怨春不语。算只有殷勤，画檐蛛网，尽日惹飞絮。
Yuàn chūn bù yǔ. Suàn zhǐyǒu yīnqín, huà yán zhū wǎng, jǐn rì rě fēi xù.
I resent spring’s silence. Only the spider’s web on painted eaves, diligent all day, catches drifting willow down.

长门事，准拟佳期又误。蛾眉曾有人妒。
Chángmén shì, zhǔn nǐ jiāqī yòu wù. Éméi céng yǒu rén dù.
Like the neglected queen of Changmen Palace, my hopes are dashed again—beauty always invites envy.

千金纵买相如赋，脉脉此情谁诉？
Qiānjīn zòng mǎi Xiàngrú fù, mòmò cǐ qíng shuí sù?
Even if I spent gold to buy Sima Xiangru’s verse, to whom could I confide this silent grief?

君莫舞，君不见、玉环飞燕皆尘土！
Jūn mò wǔ, jūn bùjiàn, Yùhuán Fēiyàn jiē chéntǔ!
Do not dance in triumph—have you not seen? Even Yang Yuhuan and Zhao Feiyan turned to dust!

闲愁最苦。休去倚危栏，斜阳正在，烟柳断肠处。
Xián chóu zuì kǔ. Xiū qù yǐ wēi lán, xiéyáng zhèngzài, yān liǔ duàncháng chù.
Idle sorrow cuts deepest. Do not lean on high railings—the setting sun lingers where misty willows break the heart.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "How many more storms can it endure? Spring hurries away once again."
   Xin Qiji opens with a lament for the fleeting nature of spring, symbolizing the decline of the Southern Song Dynasty. The "storms" represent political upheavals and foreign invasions.

2. "Loving spring, I always fear flowers bloom too soon—how much more now, with countless petals fallen?"
   The poet expresses anxiety over the nation’s fragility. The fallen petals symbolize lost opportunities and the suffering of the people.

3. "O spring, please stay! I’ve heard fragrant grass covers the horizon—no path for your return."
   A desperate plea for stability, but the "fragrant grass" blocking spring’s return suggests irreversible decline.

4. "I resent spring’s silence. Only the spider’s web on painted eaves, diligent all day, catches drifting willow down."
   The spider’s web represents futile efforts to hold onto beauty, mirroring the poet’s struggle to save his country.

5. "Like the neglected queen of Changmen Palace, my hopes are dashed again—beauty always invites envy."
   A reference to a Han Dynasty empress who was cast aside, reflecting Xin Qiji’s own political marginalization.

6. "Even if I spent gold to buy Sima Xiangru’s verse, to whom could I confide this silent grief?"
   Sima Xiangru wrote a famous poem to regain an emperor’s favor, but Xin Qiji feels no one listens to his pleas.

7. "Do not dance in triumph—have you not seen? Even Yang Yuhuan and Zhao Feiyan turned to dust!"
   A warning to corrupt officials: even the most powerful (like these famous imperial consorts) meet ruin.

8. "Idle sorrow cuts deepest. Do not lean on high railings—the setting sun lingers where misty willows break the heart."
   The "setting sun" symbolizes the dying dynasty, and the poet advises against dwelling on despair—yet he clearly does.

Themes and Symbolism

• Transience and Loss: Spring’s departure mirrors the fleeting nature of power and national strength.
• Political Frustration: The poem critiques court corruption and the poet’s own helplessness.
• Resilience and Despair: The spider’s web suggests persistence, but the overall tone is one of sorrow.
• Historical Allusions: References to past beauties and scholars deepen the sense of inevitable decline.

Cultural Context

Xin Qiji lived during the Southern Song Dynasty, a period of military weakness and internal strife. The Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty had conquered northern China, and the Song court was plagued by factionalism. As a patriot who fought against the Jin, Xin Qiji’s poetry often blends personal melancholy with nationalistic fervor.

This poem reflects Confucian ideals of loyalty and duty, as well as Daoist themes of nature’s cycles. The imagery of spring and decay aligns with traditional Chinese views of time as cyclical yet unforgiving.

Conclusion

Mò Yú Ér·Gèng Néng Xiāo Jǐ Fān Fēng Yǔ is a poignant meditation on loss, resilience, and the passage of time. Xin Qiji’s mastery of metaphor and historical allusion creates a layered work that resonates across centuries. For modern readers, the poem serves as a reminder of the universal human struggle against forces beyond our control—whether political, natural, or existential. Its beauty lies in its ability to transform personal sorrow into a timeless reflection on impermanence.