Analysis of "赠别" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem 赠别 (Zèng Bié), meaning "Farewell Gift," was written by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu (杜牧, 803–852). Known for his lyrical and evocative style, Du Mu was a master of jueju (绝句), a four-line poetic form. This particular poem captures the bittersweet emotions of parting, blending tenderness with melancholy. It remains one of the most celebrated farewell poems in Chinese literature, admired for its simplicity and emotional depth.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

Original Text and Translation

多情却似总无情
Duō qíng què sì zǒng wú qíng
So full of love, yet seeming so unfeeling—

唯觉樽前笑不成
Wéi jué zūn qián xiào bù chéng
Before the wine, I find I cannot smile.

蜡烛有心还惜别
Là zhú yǒu xīn hái xī bié
Even the candle, with its heart aflame, grieves at parting—

替人垂泪到天明
Tì rén chuí lèi dào tiān míng
Shedding tears for us until the break of day.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. 多情却似总无情 – The opening line presents a paradox: deep affection (多情) appears as indifference (无情). This reflects the poet’s struggle to express his emotions, a common theme in farewell poetry.

2. 唯觉樽前笑不成 – The farewell banquet (樽前) should be joyful, but the poet cannot force a smile. The wine cup, a traditional symbol of camaraderie, here underscores the pain of separation.

3. 蜡烛有心还惜别 – The candle (蜡烛) is personified—its "heart" (the wick) symbolizes empathy. In Chinese culture, candles often accompany farewells, burning through the night as silent witnesses.

4. 替人垂泪到天明 – The candle’s "tears" (dripping wax) mirror human sorrow. The dawn (天明) marks the end of the vigil, heightening the sense of lingering sadness.

Themes and Symbolism

• Love and Parting: The poem explores the tension between deep affection and the inability to express it, a recurring motif in Chinese farewell poetry.
• Nature’s Sympathy: The candle’s personification reflects the Confucian idea of harmony between humans and nature—even inanimate objects share human emotions.
• Time and Longing: The night-long weeping of the candle suggests that grief transcends time, lingering until daybreak.

Cultural Context

Written during the Tang Dynasty (618–907), a golden age of Chinese poetry, 赠别 exemplifies the era’s refined emotional expression. Farewell poems (送别诗) were a common literary genre, often composed when friends or officials were posted to distant regions. Du Mu’s work stands out for its intimate tone and vivid imagery, bridging personal emotion and universal experience.

Conclusion

Du Mu’s 赠别 is a masterpiece of understated elegance, capturing the silent ache of separation. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal themes—love, loss, and the passage of time—rendered through delicate symbolism. For modern readers, the poem offers a window into Tang Dynasty sensibilities while resonating across cultures as a timeless meditation on farewells.

"The candle weeps, but its light endures—just as true friendship outlasts distance."