Analysis of "宣州谢朓楼饯别校书叔云" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "宣州谢朓楼饯别校书叔云" (Xuānzhōu Xiè Tiǎo Lóu Jiànbié Jiàoshū Shū Yún) was written by the renowned Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai (李白, 701–762), one of China’s most celebrated literary figures. Known as the "Immortal Poet" (诗仙, Shīxiān), Li Bai was famous for his romantic, free-spirited style and his love of nature, wine, and wanderlust.

This poem was composed during a farewell banquet at Xie Tiao Tower (谢朓楼) in Xuancheng, where Li Bai bid goodbye to his uncle, Li Yun (李云), a government official. The work masterfully blends personal melancholy, philosophical reflection, and admiration for the Southern Dynasties poet Xie Tiao (谢朓), whose tower served as inspiration.

Regarded as one of Li Bai’s finest pieces, the poem captures the tension between worldly aspirations and the desire for spiritual freedom—a recurring theme in his poetry.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

弃我去者，昨日之日不可留；
Qì wǒ qù zhě, zuórì zhī rì bù kě liú;
What left me behind, yesterday’s days cannot stay;

乱我心者，今日之日多烦忧。
Luàn wǒ xīn zhě, jīnrì zhī rì duō fán yōu.
What troubles my heart, today’s days bring endless sorrow.

长风万里送秋雁，对此可以酣高楼。
Cháng fēng wàn lǐ sòng qiū yàn, duì cǐ kěyǐ hān gāo lóu.
The long wind sends autumn geese for miles—facing this, we can drink deep in the high tower.

蓬莱文章建安骨，中间小谢又清发。
Pénglái wénzhāng Jiàn'ān gǔ, zhōngjiān Xiǎo Xiè yòu qīng fā.
Your writing has the grace of Penglai scholars, the vigor of Jian'an poets—and between them, young Xie’s fresh brilliance.

俱怀逸兴壮思飞，欲上青天揽明月。
Jù huái yì xìng zhuàng sī fēi, yù shàng qīng tiān lǎn míng yuè.
Both of us brim with soaring thoughts, yearning to reach the blue sky and seize the bright moon.

抽刀断水水更流，举杯消愁愁更愁。
Chōu dāo duàn shuǐ shuǐ gèng liú, jǔ bēi xiāo chóu chóu gèng chóu.
Draw a sword to cut the water—the water flows on; lift a cup to drown sorrow—sorrow only deepens.

人生在世不称意，明朝散发弄扁舟。
Rénshēng zàishì bù chēngyì, míngzhāo sànfà nòng piānzhōu.
Since life in this world never goes as we wish, tomorrow I’ll loosen my hair and steer a lone boat.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "What left me behind…" (Lines 1-2)
   Li Bai opens with a lament about time’s relentless passage—yesterday is irretrievable, and today is filled with unrest. The repetition of "days" (日, rì) emphasizes the poet’s frustration with life’s impermanence.

2. "The long wind sends autumn geese…" (Lines 3-4)
   The imagery of wind and migrating geese evokes the vastness of nature and the season’s melancholy. The "high tower" (高楼, gāo lóu) refers to Xie Tiao Tower, where Li Bai and his uncle drink to escape sorrow.

3. "Your writing has the grace…" (Lines 5-6)
   Li Bai praises Li Yun’s literary talent by comparing it to:
   - Penglai scholars: Mythical immortals, symbolizing refined wisdom.
   - Jian'an poets: A group of bold, heroic poets from the Han Dynasty.
   - "Young Xie" (Xie Tiao): A poet Li Bai admired for his clarity and elegance.

4. "Both of us brim with soaring thoughts…" (Lines 7-8)
   The desire to "seize the moon" reflects Li Bai’s romantic idealism and unattainable aspirations—a metaphor for chasing dreams beyond mortal limits.

5. "Draw a sword to cut the water…" (Lines 9-10)
   These iconic lines use paradox to convey futility: fighting time (water) or numbing pain (wine) only intensifies suffering. The imagery is vivid and universally relatable.

6. "Since life in this world…" (Lines 11-12)
   The conclusion embraces Daoist escapism: rejecting societal norms ("loosening hair" signifies freedom) and seeking solace in nature (a "lone boat").

Themes and Symbolism

1. Transience and Sorrow
   The poem grapples with the inevitability of time’s passage and the weight of unfulfilled desires.

2. Nature as Refuge
   Wind, geese, and rivers symbolize both freedom and the uncontrollable forces of life.

3. The Unattainable Ideal
   The moon represents unreachable dreams, while the sword and wine symbolize futile attempts to control fate.

4. Literary Legacy
   References to Xie Tiao and Jian'an poets highlight Li Bai’s reverence for artistic excellence.

Cultural Context

• Written during the Tang Dynasty (618–907), a golden age of Chinese poetry, the poem reflects the era’s blend of Confucian duty and Daoist individualism.
• Xie Tiao Tower was a cultural landmark, tying Li Bai to a poetic predecessor he admired.
• The final lines echo Daoist philosophy—rejecting worldly strife for harmony with nature.

Conclusion

"宣州谢朓楼饯别校书叔云" is a masterpiece of emotional depth and lyrical beauty. Li Bai’s interplay of personal anguish and transcendent yearning resonates across centuries, offering solace to anyone who has felt trapped by life’s burdens. Its closing image—a lone boat under the vast sky—reminds us that sometimes, the only answer is to let go and flow with the universe.

For modern readers, the poem is a timeless meditation on the balance between ambition and acceptance, making it as relevant today as it was in Tang Dynasty China.