Analysis of "陌上桑" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

"陌上桑" (Mò Shàng Sāng), also known as "The Mulberry by the Path," is a famous Yuefu folk ballad from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). While the author is anonymous like most Yuefu poems, it remains one of China's most celebrated early narrative poems. This work stands out for its vivid storytelling, social commentary, and the iconic portrayal of a beautiful, virtuous woman named Luo Fu who resists the advances of a powerful official. The poem offers valuable insights into Han Dynasty society, gender dynamics, and literary aesthetics.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

日出东南隅，照我秦氏楼。

Rì chū dōngnán yú, zhào wǒ Qín shì lóu.

The sun rises in the southeast corner, shining upon our Qin family's tower.

秦氏有好女，自名为罗敷。

Qín shì yǒu hǎo nǚ, zì míng wéi Luó Fū.

The Qin family has a lovely daughter, who calls herself Luo Fu.

罗敷喜蚕桑，采桑城南隅。

Luó Fū xǐ cán sāng, cǎi sāng chéng nán yú.

Luo Fu delights in silkworms and mulberries, gathering them by the city's southern wall.

青丝为笼系，桂枝为笼钩。

Qīng sī wéi lóng xì, guì zhī wéi lóng gōu.

With black silk as her basket's strap, and cassia branches as its hook.

头上倭堕髻，耳中明月珠。

Tóu shàng wō duò jì, ěr zhōng míng yuè zhū.

Her hair coiled in a falling bun, her ears adorned with bright moon pearls.

缃绮为下裙，紫绮为上襦。

Xiāng qǐ wéi xià qún, zǐ qǐ wéi shàng rú.

She wears a skirt of light yellow silk, and a short jacket of purple damask.

行者见罗敷，下担捋髭须。

Xíng zhě jiàn Luó Fū, xià dān lǚ zī xū.

When passersby see Luo Fu, they put down their loads and stroke their beards.

少年见罗敷，脱帽著帩头。

Shàonián jiàn Luó Fū, tuō mào zhe qiào tóu.

When young men see Luo Fu, they remove their hats and adjust their headscarves.

耕者忘其犁，锄者忘其锄。

Gēng zhě wàng qí lí, chú zhě wàng qí chú.

Plowmen forget their plows, hoers forget their hoes.

来归相怨怒，但坐观罗敷。

Lái guī xiāng yuàn nù, dàn zuò guān Luó Fū.

Returning home, they quarrel with their wives, all for gazing at Luo Fu.

Line-by-Line Analysis

The opening lines establish the setting with a radiant sunrise, immediately creating an atmosphere of beauty and vitality that mirrors the poem's heroine. The description of Luo Fu's appearance (lines 4-10) uses exquisite natural imagery - black silk, cassia branches, moon pearls - to suggest her refinement and connection with nature.

The poem's middle section (lines 11-18) demonstrates its masterful use of indirect characterization. Rather than describing Luo Fu's beauty directly, the poet shows its effect on observers: men of all ages and occupations become distracted by her presence. The hyperbolic images of farmers forgetting their tools humorously emphasize her captivating charm.

The cultural details are particularly significant - her elaborate hairstyle ("falling bun") and fine silks indicate high status, while her mulberry gathering shows industriousness, combining ideals of beauty and virtue.

Themes and Symbolism

Female Virtue and Agency: Luo Fu represents the ideal Han woman - beautiful, skilled, and morally upright. Her later rejection of the official's advances (in subsequent verses not quoted here) demonstrates her wisdom and integrity.

Social Hierarchy: The poem subtly critiques the abuse of power through the contrast between the virtuous commoner Luo Fu and the arrogant official.

Nature's Beauty: The mulberry tree symbolizes feminine energy and domestic virtue in Chinese culture, while the sunrise imagery connects human beauty with natural splendor.

The Power of Presence: The poem suggests true beauty creates ripples through society, affecting observers profoundly.

Cultural Context

As a Yuefu poem, "陌上桑" originated from the Han Dynasty's Music Bureau which collected folk songs. These works often contained social commentary beneath their lyrical surfaces. During the Han period, mulberry cultivation was women's work, essential for silk production - China's most valuable commodity.

The poem reflects Confucian values regarding female behavior, particularly the emphasis on both inner virtue and outer refinement. Luo Fu's character embodies the "three submissions and four virtues" ideal for women, yet the poem also celebrates her assertive rejection of improper attention, showing complexity in Han gender norms.

The work's enduring popularity stems from its balanced combination of:
- Vivid, accessible storytelling
- Social relevance
- Artistic subtlety
- Humorous elements

Conclusion

"陌上桑" remains a masterpiece of early Chinese poetry because it works simultaneously on multiple levels - as an entertaining story, a character study, a social document, and a work of artistic refinement. Its depiction of Luo Fu has inspired countless later works in Chinese literature, making her one of the culture's most iconic female figures.

For modern readers, the poem offers both aesthetic pleasure and historical insight, reminding us that issues of gender, power, and virtue remain perennially relevant across cultures and centuries. The delicate balance between describing Luo Fu's beauty and leaving it to the reader's imagination demonstrates the subtlety that makes classical Chinese poetry so enduringly powerful.