Analysis of "满庭芳·归去来兮" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem 满庭芳·归去来兮 (Mǎn Tíng Fāng · Guī Qù Lái Xī) is a lyrical masterpiece by Su Shi (苏轼), one of the most celebrated poets of the Song Dynasty (960–1279). Known for his philosophical depth and emotional resonance, Su Shi often explored themes of nature, transience, and the joys of reclusive life. This particular poem reflects his Taoist-inspired longing for simplicity and detachment from worldly struggles.

Written during a period of political exile, 归去来兮 ("Return Home!") echoes the famous prose-poem 归去来兮辞 by Tao Yuanming (陶渊明), expressing a desire to leave behind the chaos of official life and embrace rural serenity. Its lyrical beauty and introspective tone make it a timeless piece in Chinese literature.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

满庭芳·归去来兮
Mǎn Tíng Fāng · Guī Qù Lái Xī
"Return Home! – To the Tune of ‘Courtyard Full of Fragrance’"

归去来兮，吾归何处？
Guī qù lái xī, wú guī hé chù?
"Return home! But where is my home?"

万里家在岷峨。
Wàn lǐ jiā zài Mín É.
"My homeland lies ten thousand miles away, in Min and E."

百年强半，来日苦无多。
Bǎi nián qiáng bàn, lái rì kǔ wú duō.
"A hundred years—half already gone, the days ahead are few and bitter."

坐见黄州再闰，儿童尽、楚语吴歌。
Zuò jiàn Huángzhōu zài rùn, értóng jìn, Chǔ yǔ Wú gē.
"Sitting here, I see another intercalary month in Huangzhou; the children now all speak the Chu dialect and sing Wu songs."

山中友，鸡豚社酒，相劝老东坡。
Shān zhōng yǒu, jī tún shè jiǔ, xiāng quàn lǎo Dōngpō.
"Mountain friends, with chicken, pork, and village wine, urge old Dongpo to stay."

云何，当此去，人生底事，来往如梭。
Yún hé, dāng cǐ qù, rénshēng dǐ shì, lái wǎng rú suō.
"What can I say? As I depart, why must life’s affairs shuttle back and forth like a loom?"

待闲看秋风，洛水清波。
Dài xián kàn qiūfēng, Luò shuǐ qīng bō.
"I’ll wait and idly watch the autumn wind, the clear waves of the Luo River."

好在堂前细柳，应念我，莫剪柔柯。
Hǎo zài táng qián xì liǔ, yīng niàn wǒ, mò jiǎn róu kē.
"The slender willow before my hall—remember me, don’t cut its tender branches."

仍传语，江南父老，时与晒渔蓑。
Réng chuán yǔ, Jiāngnán fùlǎo, shí yǔ shài yú suō.
"And send word to the elders of Jiangnan: now and then, air my fishing raincoat."

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "Return home! But where is my home?"
   - The opening echoes Tao Yuanming’s famous resignation from office, but Su Shi’s tone is more melancholic. He is exiled, unable to return to his true homeland (Sichuan).

2. "My homeland lies ten thousand miles away, in Min and E."
   - Min and E refer to Sichuan’s Min Mountains and Mount Emei, symbolizing an unreachable past.

3. "A hundred years—half already gone..."
   - A reflection on mortality and lost time, intensified by his political misfortunes.

4. "The children now all speak the Chu dialect..."
   - Even after years in Huangzhou (exile), he remains an outsider. The local culture has absorbed his family, yet he feels rootless.

5. "Mountain friends... urge old Dongpo to stay."
   - Dongpo was Su Shi’s self-given name during exile. The rustic hospitality contrasts with the instability of official life.

6. "Why must life’s affairs shuttle back and forth like a loom?"
   - A metaphor for the futility of worldly pursuits, evoking Taoist and Buddhist ideas of detachment.

7. "The clear waves of the Luo River."
   - The Luo River symbolizes tranquility, a place where he might find peace in nature.

8. "The slender willow... don’t cut its tender branches."
   - The willow represents memory and continuity. Su Shi hopes his connection to this place endures.

9. "Send word to the elders... air my fishing raincoat."
   - The fishing raincoat symbolizes his idealized life as a recluse, free from politics.

Themes and Symbolism

• Exile and Longing: The poem grapples with displacement and nostalgia for a lost home.
• Transience of Life: References to fleeting time underscore the poet’s philosophical resignation.
• Nature as Solace: Rivers, willows, and mountains embody peace, contrasting with human strife.
• Rejection of Worldly Power: The poem rejects political ambition in favor of rustic simplicity, a classic Taoist ideal.

Cultural Context

Su Shi wrote this during his second exile (1094), a period of hardship that deepened his spiritual and literary insight. The Song Dynasty valued scholar-officials, but political factions often led to purges. Su Shi’s work reflects the Confucian-Taoist duality: duty versus retreat.

The poem’s title and refrain (归去来兮) pay homage to Tao Yuanming, a 4th-century poet who famously quit office to farm. By referencing him, Su Shi aligns himself with a tradition of literary dissent through reclusion.

Conclusion

满庭芳·归去来兮 is a poignant meditation on belonging and the search for peace amid chaos. Su Shi’s lyrical mastery turns personal sorrow into universal reflection, making the poem resonate across centuries. For modern readers, it offers a timeless lesson: that true contentment may lie not in power, but in simplicity and the natural world.

As Su Shi whispers to the willow, "remember me," the poem itself becomes that enduring memory—a bridge between past and present, China and the world.