Analysis of "送刘昱" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem 送刘昱 (Sòng Liú Yù), or Farewell to Liu Yu, was written by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Yi (李益). Li Yi (748–829 CE) was a prominent figure in mid-Tang poetry, known for his melancholic and refined verses, particularly those depicting frontier life and farewells.

This poem is a farewell piece, a common theme in classical Chinese poetry, where parting was often imbued with deep emotion due to the uncertainties of travel and communication in ancient times. 送刘昱 stands out for its vivid imagery of the autumnal Yangtze River and its poignant expression of friendship and solitude.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

八月寒苇花，
Bā yuè hán wěi huā,
In the eighth month, cold reeds bloom,

秋江浪头白。
Qiū jiāng làng tóu bái.
On autumn river waves, white crests rise.

北风吹五两，
Běi fēng chuī wǔ liǎng,
The north wind blows the sail’s weight,

谁是浔阳客？
Shuí shì Xúnyáng kè?
Who now is the traveler to Xunyang?

鸬鹚山头微雨晴，
Lúcí shān tóu wēi yǔ qíng,
On Cormorant Mountain, light rain clears,

扬州郭里暮潮生。
Yángzhōu guō lǐ mù cháo shēng.
Within Yangzhou’s walls, evening tides swell.

行人夜宿金陵渚，
Xíngrén yè sù Jīnlíng zhǔ,
The wanderer lodges at night on Jinling’s shore,

试听沙边有雁声。
Shì tīng shā biān yǒu yàn shēng.
Listen—by the sands, wild geese cry.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "In the eighth month, cold reeds bloom"
   The poem opens with a stark autumn scene. The "cold reeds" symbolize transience and the season’s melancholy, setting a somber tone for the farewell.

2. "On autumn river waves, white crests rise"
   The Yangtze River’s turbulent waves mirror the emotional unrest of parting. White, in Chinese culture, often signifies mourning or separation.

3. "The north wind blows the sail’s weight"
   The wind fills the sail (measured by the "five liǎng," an ancient weight for testing wind strength), emphasizing the inevitability of the journey.

4. "Who now is the traveler to Xunyang?"
   Xunyang (modern Jiujiang) was a symbolic place of exile and solitude in Tang poetry. The rhetorical question underscores the loneliness of the departing friend.

5. "On Cormorant Mountain, light rain clears"
   The shifting weather—from rain to clearing—hints at fleeting moments of hope amid sorrow.

6. "Within Yangzhou’s walls, evening tides swell"
   Yangzhou, a bustling city, contrasts with the traveler’s solitude. The rising tide mirrors the swelling emotions of farewell.

7. "The wanderer lodges at night on Jinling’s shore"
   Jinling (Nanjing) was another cultural hub. The traveler’s temporary rest suggests the uncertainty of his journey.

8. "Listen—by the sands, wild geese cry"
   Wild geese symbolize messages and loneliness in Chinese poetry. Their cries amplify the poem’s sense of isolation.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Transience and Farewell
   The poem captures the Tang Dynasty’s preoccupation with parting, where journeys were perilous and reunions uncertain.

2. Nature as Emotional Mirror
   The autumn river, wind, and geese reflect the poet’s inner turmoil. The imagery is both literal and metaphorical.

3. Solitude in Motion
   The traveler’s journey is solitary, emphasized by the empty question ("Who now is the traveler?") and the lone cry of geese.

Cultural Context

• Tang Dynasty Travel: Long journeys were common for officials, merchants, and scholars, making farewell poems a vital literary genre.
• Symbolism of Water: Rivers like the Yangtze represented life’s flow and separation’s inevitability.
• Geographical Significance: Xunyang, Yangzhou, and Jinling were cultural landmarks, evoking shared memories among Tang readers.

Conclusion

送刘昱 is a masterpiece of understated emotion, where nature and human feeling intertwine. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal themes—love, loss, and the passage of time—rendered through exquisite imagery. Today, it reminds us of the bittersweet beauty of farewells and the timeless power of poetry to bridge distances, both physical and emotional.

For readers exploring Chinese literature, this poem offers a window into the Tang Dynasty’s soul, where every breeze and wave carried the weight of human connection.