Analysis of a Classic Chinese Poem: 相见欢

# Analysis of "相见欢" - Classical Chinese Poetry

## Introduction  
"相见欢" (Xiāngjiàn Huān, "Joy of Meeting") is a famous lyric poem by Li Yu (李煜), the last emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Though better known as a ruler than a poet, Li Yu's works gained posthumous acclaim for their emotional depth and artistic mastery. This particular poem reflects bittersweet emotions about fleeting happiness—a theme shaped by Li Yu's personal tragedy of losing his kingdom to the Song Dynasty.

## The Poem: Full Text and Translation  

> 无言独上西楼  
> *Wú yán dú shàng xī lóu*  
> Wordless, alone I ascend the western tower  

> 月如钩  
> *Yuè rú gōu*  
> The moon like a silver hook  

> 寂寞梧桐深院锁清秋  
> *Jìmò wútóng shēn yuàn suǒ qīngqiū*  
> Lonely parasol trees, a deep courtyard locks in the crisp autumn  

> 剪不断  
> *Jiǎn bù duàn*  
> Shears cannot sever it  

> 理还乱  
> *Lǐ hái luàn*  
> Yet sorting only tangles more  

> 是离愁  
> *Shì lí chóu*  
> This is the sorrow of parting  

> 别是一般滋味在心头  
> *Bié shì yībān zīwèi zài xīntóu*  
> An altogether different flavor lingers in the heart  

## Line-by-Line Analysis  

1. **"Wordless, alone..."**  
   The opening establishes solitude. "Western tower" suggests a place of contemplation, often associated with melancholy in Chinese poetry.  

2. **"The moon like a silver hook"**  
   A crescent moon symbolizes incompleteness—a visual metaphor for the poet's unfulfilled longing.  

3. **"Lonely parasol trees..."**  
   The wutong tree (梧桐) traditionally symbolizes loneliness in autumn. "Locked courtyard" implies trapped emotions.  

4. **"Shears cannot sever it..."**  
   The famous couplet uses textile imagery (cutting/combing threads) to describe inescapable grief.  

5. **"This is the sorrow..."**  
   "离愁" (lí chóu) refers specifically to the pain of separation—likely referencing Li Yu's lost kingdom.  

6. **"An altogether different flavor..."**  
   Concludes with synesthesia, blending taste ("flavor") with emotional weight.  

## Themes and Symbolism  

- **Transience of Joy**: The title's "joy" contrasts sharply with the poem's melancholy, highlighting life's ephemeral pleasures.  
- **Nature as Emotion**: Autumn, the wutong tree, and the moon mirror the poet's inner desolation.  
- **Tangled Grief**: The textile metaphor (lines 4–5) suggests sorrow that resists resolution, a hallmark of Li Yu's post-captivity works.  

## Cultural Context  

Written after Li Yu's forced surrender in 975 CE, the poem embodies the "亡国之音" (wángguó zhī yīn, "sound of a fallen nation") literary tradition—expressing a ruler's remorse through personal loss imagery. Its enduring popularity stems from universalizing political tragedy as human emotion. The wutong tree and autumn motifs later influenced Song Dynasty lyric poetry (词 cí).  

## Conclusion  

"相见欢" transcends its historical context to speak about the human condition. Its deceptive simplicity—using natural imagery to convey profound sorrow—exemplifies classical Chinese poetry's power. For modern readers, it offers a gateway to understanding how traditional literature processed trauma through artistic restraint. The poem's closing lines resonate across cultures: some griefs defy explanation, leaving only a "different flavor" in the heart.