己亥杂诗
Miscellaneous Poems of the Year Jihai
Original
浩荡离愁白日斜，
吟鞭东指即天涯。
落红不是无情物，
化作春泥更护花。
Translation
A boundless sorrow of parting weighs on me as the sun dips west,
I flick my whip eastward, heading for the distant horizon.
Fallen blossoms are not heartless things,
They turn into spring mud to nourish new flowers more.
Line by Line Analysis
About This Poem
This poem is one of the 315 Miscellaneous Poems of the Year Jihai composed by Gong Zizhen in 1839, when he resigned from his official position in Beijing and set off on a journey back to his hometown. The opening lines vividly depict the poet’s overwhelming melancholy against the backdrop of a setting sun, capturing both his grief at leaving the capital and his quiet resolve to move forward. The latter two verses, the most celebrated of the work, transcend personal sorrow to convey a lofty spirit of dedication: fallen petals do not fade into nothingness, but transform into fertile mud to nurture new blooms. This powerful metaphor embodies the poet’s unwavering loyalty to his country—even outside official circles, he still longs to contribute to nurturing future talents and revitalizing the declining Qing society.
About the Poet
龚自珍
Gōng Zìzhēn
Gong Zizhen (1792-1841) was a prominent thinker, litterateur and reformist of the late Qing Dynasty. A sharp critic of the decaying feudal system, he advocated urgent social reforms to revitalize the declining empire. His poems, characterized by passionate, unconstrained tones and incisive social commentary, blend personal sentiment with profound ideological insights, exerting a lasting influence on Chinese literature and intellectual thought.
Cultural & Historical Context
During the late Qing Dynasty, the empire was in steep decline: opium trade eroded national strength, feudal institutions grew stagnant, and the imperial court resisted progressive reforms. Culturally, traditional Confucian values instilled scholar-officials like Gong Zizhen with a strong sense of social responsibility, while flower imagery in classical Chinese poetry typically symbolized transience, which Gong reinterprets to convey selfless dedication. Socially, official corruption was rampant, reform-minded intellectuals were marginalized, and ordinary people endured hardship under misrule. On a personal level, Gong resigned in 1839 after repeated setbacks in promoting his reform proposals, disillusioned yet still deeply devoted to his nation. His creative purpose was to voice his unyielding patriotism beyond official duties, inspiring others to contribute to society regardless of their status. Artistically, the poem excels in its brilliant metaphor of fallen petals, blending personal melancholy with noble ideals to create a poignant yet uplifting mood that resonates across generations, elevating it from a mere parting verse to a timeless ode to altruism.