回乡偶书
A Casual Poem on Returning Home
Original
少小离家老大回，
乡音无改鬓毛衰。
儿童相见不相识，
笑问客从何处来。
Translation
I left home while young, now return in old age,
My accent’s unchanged, but locks of hair turn gray.
The children see me, not knowing who I am,
Smile and ask, ‘Where do you come from, sir?’
Line by Line Analysis
About This Poem
A Casual Poem on Returning Home is a heartfelt quatrain by He Zhizhang, composed when he returned to his hometown in his late 80s after over 40 years of official service in the Tang capital Chang’an. The poem captures the bittersweet blend of nostalgia and bewilderment: the speaker’s unaltered local accent contrasts with his graying hair, marking the relentless passage of time. When local children fail to recognize him and cheerfully inquire about his origins, the scene amplifies the poignant gap between his long absence and the familiar yet altered home. It conveys universal themes of time’s transience, the enduring bond with one’s roots, and the gentle irony of being a stranger in the place that shaped one’s youth, resonating deeply with readers across eras.
About the Poet
贺知章
Hè Zhīzhāng
He Zhizhang (659-744) was a prominent poet and official of the Tang Dynasty, one of the renowned "Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup"—a group of literati celebrated for their love of wine and poetic talent. He held high official posts, including Crown Prince’s Guest, before retiring to his hometown in old age. His poetry, though limited in quantity, is characterized by its fresh, natural tone and close connection to daily life. His concise quatrains remain beloved classics for their genuine emotions and vivid imagery.
Cultural & Historical Context
Historical Background: The Tang Dynasty (618-907) was China’s golden age of poetry, where scholar-officials frequently relocated to distant posts for career advancement, making homecoming a recurring, emotionally charged theme in literary works. Cultural Background: Rooted in Confucian values, traditional Chinese culture prioritized filial piety and attachment to ancestral hometowns, framing returning home in old age as a sacred, fulfilling life milestone. Social Background: Tang society revered bureaucratic success, but officials often endured decades of separation from family and native lands, fostering widespread homesickness among the literati class. Personal Experience: He Zhizhang retired at 85 with imperial approval, returning to his birthplace in Yuezhou after spending most of his adult life in the capital; this poem was penned the moment he encountered the local children. Creative Purpose & Artistic Features: The poem aims to express the complex, conflicting emotions of homecoming—joy, sorrow, and disorientation. It uses subtle contrasts (youth vs old age, familiar accent vs gray hair, adult nostalgia vs children’s innocence) and plain, colloquial language to evoke universal human experiences, turning a mundane street encounter into a timeless reflection on life’s impermanence and the enduring pull of one’s roots.