山行
On a Mountain Path
Original
远上寒山石径斜，
白云生处有人家。
停车坐爱枫林晚，
霜叶红于二月花。
Translation
A stone path winds up to the cold hillside;
Where white clouds rise, a cottage resides.
I halt my cart, enchanted by the maple grove at dusk;
Frost-kissed leaves outshine February’s flowers.
Line by Line Analysis
About This Poem
The complete English translation of 'On a Mountain Path' is: 'A stone path winds up to the cold hillside; Where white clouds rise, a cottage resides. I halt my cart, enchanted by the maple grove at dusk; Frost-kissed leaves outshine February’s flowers.' Composed during Du Mu’s tenure as a local magistrate in a remote northern prefecture of the Tang Dynasty, the poem captures a serene yet vibrant autumn mountain scene. Departing from the conventional melancholy tied to autumn in classical Chinese poetry, it exalts the fiery beauty of frosted maple leaves, framing them as more striking than spring’s delicate blossoms. The work conveys the poet’s spontaneous delight in nature’s quiet wonders, reflecting his appreciation for late autumn’s overlooked charm and his ability to find joy in fleeting, unexpected moments.
About the Poet
杜牧
Dù Mù
Du Mu (803–852), a celebrated poet and essayist of the late Tang Dynasty in China, ranks among the most prominent literary figures of his era. He is often paired with Li Shangyin as the 'Little Li-Du,' setting them apart from the earlier 'Great Li-Du' (Li Bai and Du Fu). His works span satirical pieces criticizing official malfeasance, historical meditations, and lyrical landscape poems, characterized by elegant diction, vivid imagery, and a subtle, poignant melancholy that reflects the declining fortunes of the Tang Empire.
Cultural & Historical Context
During the late Tang Dynasty (803–852), when the empire faced irreversible decline due to political corruption, regional warlord conflicts, and widespread peasant uprisings, Du Mu composed this poem against a somber historical backdrop. Culturally, classical Chinese poetry had long framed autumn as a season of sorrow and decay, tying it to fading vitality and personal longing—this work boldly subverts that deep-rooted literary convention. Socially, as bureaucratic infighting plagued the capital, scholar-officials like Du Mu often retreated to rural landscapes to escape political turmoil and find emotional solace in nature. At the time of writing, Du Mu served as a local magistrate in a remote northern prefecture, far from Chang’an, allowing him to immerse himself in unspoiled mountain scenery and connect with rural nature intimately. His creation purpose was to redefine autumn’s aesthetic value, celebrating its vibrant, overlooked beauty. Artistically, the poem uses vivid sensory imagery (the winding stone path, crimson frosted leaves) and a striking contrast between autumn foliage and spring blossoms to convey spontaneous joy; its concise, elegant language balances simplicity with profound emotional resonance, capturing a fleeting moment of aesthetic revelation that endures in literary history.