悯农·锄禾日当午
Sympathy for the Farmers: Hoeing Grains at Midday
Original
锄禾日当午，
汗滴禾下土。
谁知盘中餐，
粒粒皆辛苦。
Translation
Hoeing grains beneath the midday sun,
Sweat drips down onto the soil.
Who knows that every grain in the bowl,
Each and every one comes with toil.
Line by Line Analysis
About This Poem
This four-line poem is a classic work of realistic poetry from the Tang Dynasty, part of Li Shen’s series of 'Sympathy for the Farmers' verses. Set against the backdrop of midday farm work, it paints a vivid, visceral scene: a farmer toiling under the scorching sun, sweat soaking the earth where crops grow. Written during a time when the Tang Dynasty faced a declining rural economy and widening gaps between the rich and poor, the poem’s core theme is to arouse readers’ empathy for farmers’ hardships and remind them to cherish food. Its straightforward, unadorned language cuts through superficial comfort, forcing anyone who enjoys a full meal to confront the labor behind every grain, making it a timeless call for gratitude and social awareness.
About the Poet
李绅
Lǐ Shēn
Li Shen (772–846) was a prominent poet and statesman of the mid-Tang Dynasty in China. A core member of the New Yuefu Movement, he dedicated his literary career to creating poetry that vividly portrays the struggles of ordinary farmers and laborers. Though he served in various official positions throughout his life, his most enduring legacy rests on his realistic, socially conscious verses that shed light on the stark inequalities between the ruling class and the working poor, earning him lasting respect in Chinese literary history.
Cultural & Historical Context
Historical Background: The mid-Tang Dynasty followed the devastating An Lushan Rebellion (755–763), which shattered the empire’s stability, leaving rural regions in ruins and farmers grappling with famine and displacement. Cultural Background: Li Shen was a key figure in the New Yuefu Movement, a literary movement that rejected ornate, escapist poetry and instead promoted works that reflected real social issues, reviving the folk-inspired moral verse tradition. Social Background: By Li Shen’s era, land concentration had intensified, with wealthy landlords seizing most arable land, while small-scale farmers were burdened by exorbitant taxes and forced labor, pushing many into destitution. Personal Experience: During his youth, Li Shen lived in poverty and wandered through rural areas, where he witnessed firsthand the backbreaking toil and deprivation of farming families—these experiences deeply shaped his commitment to giving voice to the marginalized.创作目的和艺术特色：Li Shen wrote this poem to jolt the privileged ruling class and urban elites out of their complacency, urging them to recognize the blood and sweat behind their daily meals. Its artistic strength lies in its concise, concrete imagery: the blistering midday sun, dripping sweat, and the humble grain in the bowl create a stark contrast between labor and ease, using simple, colloquial language to deliver a powerful, accessible social critique that has resonated across centuries.