商山早行
An Early Journey Through Shangshan Mountains
Original
晨起动征铎，
客行悲故乡。
鸡声茅店月，
人迹板桥霜。
槲叶落山路，
枳花明驿墙。
因思杜陵梦，
凫雁满回塘。
Translation
At dawn I rise, the travel bells clang loud;
A wanderer, I grieve for my far-off hometown.
Cocks crow beneath the moon o'er thatched inns proud;
Footprints mark the frosty plank bridge’s dawn shroud.
Oak leaves strew the winding mountain path;
Trifoliate orange blooms brighten the post-house wall.
I recall my dream of Duling’s peaceful land;
Where wild ducks and geese crowd the curved pond’s strand.
Line by Line Analysis
About This Poem
This poem vividly encapsulates the poignant homesickness of a wanderer undertaking an early morning journey through the Shangshan Mountains. Written during Wen Tingyun’s years of wandering away from his hometown, it opens with the harsh reality of dawn departure—travel bells clanging, stirring the traveler’s deep sorrow for his distant home. The iconic middle couplet uses a series of unconnected sensory images: cockcrow, thatched inn, moon, footprints, plank bridge, and frost—to paint a desolate yet hauntingly beautiful early morning scene. The following lines detail the roadside scenery: fallen oak leaves and bright orange blooms lining the post-house wall. Finally, the traveler’s nostalgic dream of Duling, where wild ducks and geese gather in tranquil ponds, contrasts sharply with his cold, lonely present, amplifying the theme of longing for home and the hardship of life on the road.
About the Poet
温庭筠
Wēn Tíngyún
Wen Tingyun (c. 812–866) was a prominent poet and ci writer of the late Tang Dynasty. Revered as one of the founding fathers of ci poetry, he also achieved great acclaim in shi poetry. His works are celebrated for their exquisitely crafted imagery, understated yet profound emotions, and vivid portrayals of romantic encounters, daily life, and the quiet melancholy of wanderers. Blending elegance with subtle sentiment, he laid the groundwork for the lyrical style that defined later ci compositions.
Cultural & Historical Context
Historically, the late Tang Dynasty (9th century) was marked by political instability, economic decline, and widespread social unrest, forcing many literati to travel frequently—either for official duties, to pursue career opportunities, or to flee turmoil. Culturally, travel poetry stood as a cornerstone of Tang literature, as long journeys offered poets rich material to explore universal emotions like homesickness, existential reflection, and the transience of human life. Socially, long-distance travel was an arduous experience for scholars, who relied on rustic inns and government post-houses, enduring harsh weather, isolation, and the constant longing for their families and hometowns. Wen Tingyun, despite his exceptional literary talent, faced repeated failures in imperial examinations due to his unconventional, rebellious personality, leading him to live as a wandering scholar for much of his adult life. This poem draws directly from his own experiences of displacement. His purpose in writing it was twofold: to express his profound homesickness and the emotional weight of constant wandering, and to showcase his artistic mastery of poetic imagery. Artistically, the poem excels in "image stacking"—juxtaposing sensory details without connecting conjunctions to create an immersive, vivid scene. The iconic couplet "Cocks crow beneath the moon o'er thatched inns; footprints mark the frosty plank bridge" is a masterclass in this technique, using minimal words to evoke a complete, emotionally resonant moment. Additionally, the contrast between the bleak, cold reality of the journey and the warm, tranquil dream of his hometown amplifies the poem’s emotional depth, making it a timeless masterpiece of Tang travel poetry.