Analysis of "西岳云台歌送丹丘子" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem "西岳云台歌送丹丘子" (Xī Yuè Yún Tái Gē Sòng Dān Qiū Zǐ) 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," Li Bai was famous for his romantic, free-spirited style and his deep connection with nature and Daoist philosophy.

This poem was composed as a farewell gift to his friend Yuan Danqiu (元丹丘), a Daoist hermit. It vividly describes the majestic Mount Hua (西岳, Xī Yuè, one of China's Five Great Mountains) and blends natural grandeur with spiritual transcendence. The work exemplifies Li Bai's imaginative brilliance and his ability to merge human emotion with the vastness of the cosmos.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

西岳峥嵘何壮哉
Xī yuè zhēng róng hé zhuàng zāi
How towering and magnificent is the Western Peak!

黄河如丝天际来
Huáng hé rú sī tiān jì lái
The Yellow River threads down from the edge of the sky.

黄河万里触山动
Huáng hé wàn lǐ chù shān dòng
For thousands of miles, the river shakes the mountains,

盘涡毂转秦地雷
Pán wō gǔ zhuǎn qín dì léi
Its whirlpools churn like thunder over the Qin land.

荣光休气纷五彩
Róng guāng xiū qì fēn wǔ cǎi
Radiant hues and auspicious vapors glow in five colors,

千年一清圣人在
Qiān nián yī qīng shèng rén zài
The river clears once in millennia—a sign of the sage’s presence.

巨灵咆哮擘两山
Jù líng páo xiāo bāi liǎng shān
The Giant Spirit roared and split the twin peaks apart,

洪波喷流射东海
Hóng bō pēn liú shè dōng hǎi
Floodwaters gushed forth, shooting toward the Eastern Sea.

三峰却立如欲摧
Sān fēng què lì rú yù cuī
The three summits recoil as if about to crumble,

翠崖丹谷高掌开
Cuì yá dān gǔ gāo zhǎng kāi
Jade cliffs and crimson ravines part beneath a giant’s palm.

白帝金精运元气
Bái dì jīn jīng yùn yuán qì
The White Emperor, golden essence, moves the primal energy,

石作莲花云作台
Shí zuò lián huā yún zuò tái
Stone becomes lotus, clouds form a celestial terrace.

云台阁道连窈冥
Yún tái gé dào lián yǎo míng
The cloud-terraced paths lead to the realm of mystery,

中有不死丹丘生
Zhōng yǒu bù sǐ dān qiū shēng
Here dwells the undying one—Danqiu.

明星玉女备洒扫
Míng xīng yù nǚ bèi sǎ sǎo
The Star Maidens and Jade Maidens prepare the way,

麻姑搔背指爪轻
Má gū sāo bèi zhǐ zhǎo qīng
Magu lightly scratches his back with her delicate fingers.

我皇手把天地户
Wǒ huáng shǒu bǎ tiān dì hù
Our sovereign holds the gates of Heaven and Earth,

丹丘谈天与天语
Dān qiū tán tiān yǔ tiān yǔ
Danqiu discourses on the cosmos, conversing with the heavens.

九重出入生光辉
Jiǔ chóng chū rù shēng guāng huī
Passing through the ninefold heavens, he radiates splendor,

东求蓬莱复西归
Dōng qiú péng lái fù xī guī
Seeking Penglai in the east, he returns westward.

玉浆倘惠故人饮
Yù jiāng tǎng huì gù rén yīn
Should you receive jade nectar, share it with an old friend,

骑二茅龙上天飞
Qí èr máo lóng shàng tiān fēi
Ride twin dragons of thatch and soar to the sky.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. Majesty of Mount Hua and the Yellow River:
   The opening lines depict the imposing grandeur of Mount Hua and the Yellow River, symbolizing nature’s power. The river is described as a delicate thread from heaven, contrasting its actual might—a metaphor for life’s paradoxes.

2. Mythological Imagery:
   References to the Giant Spirit (巨灵, Jù Líng) and White Emperor (白帝, Bái Dì) draw from Daoist and Chinese creation myths. The splitting of mountains mirrors cosmic forces shaping the world.

3. Danqiu’s Spiritual Journey:
   The poem shifts to describe Yuan Danqiu’s transcendence. Maidens (明星玉女, Star and Jade Maidens) and Magu (麻姑), a Daoist immortal, serve him, highlighting his divine connection.

4. Cosmic Dialogue:
   Danqiu "converses with Heaven," embodying the Daoist ideal of harmony between humanity and the universe. The ninefold heavens (九重, Jiǔ Chóng) represent celestial hierarchy.

5. Final Blessing:
   Li Bai humorously asks for a sip of jade nectar (玉浆, Yù Jiāng), the elixir of immortality, and imagines flying to heaven on thatch dragons (茅龙, Máo Lóng), blending whimsy with spiritual yearning.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Nature’s Sublime Power:
   The poem celebrates nature’s awe-inspiring scale, reflecting Li Bai’s romantic view of the wild as a gateway to the divine.

2. Daoist Transcendence:
   Danqiu represents the Daoist sage who achieves immortality through alignment with the Tao (道, Dào). The imagery of clouds, lotuses, and celestial terraces evokes a paradise beyond mortal reach.

3. Friendship and Longing:
   Beneath the cosmic imagery lies a tender farewell. Li Bai’s request for "jade nectar" humorously underscores his desire to stay connected to his friend.

Cultural Context

• Tang Dynasty Daoism:
  The Tang era (618–907) saw Daoism flourish as state ideology. Li Bai’s references to immortals and elixirs mirror contemporary spiritual pursuits.

• Mount Hua’s Significance:
  As one of China’s Five Great Mountains, Mount Hua was (and remains) a sacred site for Daoist pilgrimage, believed to be a dwelling place of deities.

• Literary Influence:
  The poem’s blend of shi (诗) poetry and yuefu (乐府) folk-song rhythms showcases Li Bai’s innovation within classical forms.

Conclusion

"西岳云台歌送丹丘子" is a masterpiece of lyrical exuberance and spiritual depth. Li Bai transforms a farewell into a cosmic journey, merging earthly friendship with celestial wonder. Today, the poem resonates as a testament to humanity’s timeless quest for meaning beyond the material world—a theme as universal now as in Tang Dynasty China.

Final thought: In an age of haste, Li Bai’s ode reminds us to pause, gaze at mountains, and cherish bonds that transcend even the boundaries of heaven.