Analysis of "奔亡道中" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem 奔亡道中 ("On the Road of Flight") was written by Li Bai (李白, 701–762), one of China's most celebrated poets from the Tang Dynasty. Known as the "Immortal Poet," Li Bai's works are renowned for their romanticism, vivid imagery, and emotional depth. This particular poem reflects the turmoil of war and exile, written during the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763), a devastating conflict that forced many, including Li Bai, to flee their homes.

The poem captures the sorrow and chaos of displacement while showcasing Li Bai's mastery of blending personal emotion with grand historical events. It remains significant in Chinese literature as a poignant expression of human resilience amid suffering.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

奔亡道中五首·其三

Bēn wáng dào zhōng wǔ shǒu · qí sān

Third of Five Poems on the Road of Flight

函谷如玉关

Hángǔ rú yù guān

The Hangu Pass gleams like the Jade Gate

几时可生还

Jǐ shí kě shēng huán

When will I ever return alive?

洛阳为易水

Luòyáng wéi Yì shuǐ

Luoyang has become the Yi River

嵩岳是燕山

Sōng yuè shì Yān shān

The Song Mountains are now the Yan Hills

俗变羌胡语

Sú biàn Qiāng Hú yǔ

The people speak the Qiang and Hu tongues

人多沙塞颜

Rén duō shā sāi yán

Their faces weathered by desert storms

申包惟恸哭

Shēn Bāo wéi tòng kū

Like Shen Bao, I can only weep bitterly

七日鬓毛斑

Qī rì bìn máo bān

My hair turns gray in seven days

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. Hangu Pass gleams like the Jade Gate
   - The Hangu Pass was a strategic fortress protecting central China, while the Jade Gate marked the western frontier. By comparing them, Li Bai suggests that even the heartland is now as distant and perilous as the far borders.

2. When will I ever return alive?
   - A desperate rhetorical question, expressing the uncertainty of survival during wartime.

3. Luoyang has become the Yi River / The Song Mountains are now the Yan Hills
   - Luoyang, the eastern capital, is compared to the Yi River (associated with tragic farewells), while the sacred Song Mountains are likened to the northern Yan Hills (a war-torn frontier). This shows how familiar places have transformed into symbols of loss.

4. The people speak the Qiang and Hu tongues / Their faces weathered by desert storms
   - The Qiang and Hu were nomadic tribes, often seen as "barbarians" by the Han Chinese. The poet laments the cultural and physical erosion caused by war.

5. Like Shen Bao, I can only weep bitterly / My hair turns gray in seven days
   - Shen Bao was a historical figure who wept for his fallen country. Li Bai identifies with this grief, emphasizing how quickly suffering ages him.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Exile and Displacement

The poem conveys the anguish of being uprooted, with once-familiar landscapes now foreign and hostile.

2. The Ravages of War

Li Bai depicts war not just as battles but as a force that alters language, identity, and even nature itself.

3. Time and Mortality

The image of hair turning gray in seven days hyperbolizes how war accelerates suffering and aging.

Symbolism

• Hangu Pass & Jade Gate: The blurring of safety and danger.
• Yi River: A metaphor for irreversible loss.
• Shen Bao: A symbol of patriotic despair.

Cultural Context

The An Lushan Rebellion was one of the deadliest conflicts in imperial China, causing massive civilian displacement. Li Bai, who once served in the Tang court, found himself caught in the chaos. His poem reflects the Confucian ideal of loyalty to one’s homeland, as well as the Daoist melancholy over the impermanence of human endeavors.

This poem also exemplifies Tang Dynasty poetry’s ability to merge personal emotion with historical narrative, making it relatable across centuries.

Conclusion

奔亡道中 is a masterpiece of wartime poetry, blending vivid imagery with profound sorrow. Li Bai’s ability to capture the collective trauma of his era—while making it deeply personal—ensures the poem’s timeless resonance.

In today’s world, where conflict and displacement remain urgent issues, Li Bai’s words remind us of the enduring human cost of war and the universal longing for home.