敕勒歌

The Chule Ode is a renowned Northern Dynasties folk song, compiled collectively by the Yuefu system. Its English translation captures the poem’s essence: 'The Chule Plain lies beneath the Yin Mountains. The sky is like a dome, covering the four fields. The sky is blue and vast, the grassland boundless; when the wind blows, the grass bends low, revealing cattle and sheep.' It vividly depicts northern grasslands’ grandeur and nomadic life, reflecting the Chule people’s pastoral culture. The 'dome' metaphor symbolizes freedom and vastness, celebrating nature’s beauty and harmonious coexistence, showcasing Northern Dynasties folk art’s simplicity and profundity.

About the Poet

北

北朝乐府

Běicháo Yuèfǔ

A collective creation by the Yuefu (ancient music bureau) of the Northern Dynasties (420–589), not attributed to an individual. It compiled folk songs reflecting nomadic life, with simple, vivid, and natural style, documenting northern pastoral culture.

Cultural & Historical Context

The Chule Ode is a Northern Dynasties folk creation, reflecting historical, cultural, and social contexts. Historically, the Northern Dynasties (386–581) saw nomadic tribes like the Chule dominate northern China, with Yuefu preserving folk expressions. Culturally, it uses 'qióng lú' (dome) to symbolize nature’s vastness, embodying nomadic reverence for the sky. Socially, it documents grasslands as vital survival resources. Artistically, it employs simplicity, vivid imagery, repetition ('cangcang,' 'mangmang'), and naturalism, serving as a cultural record of pastoral prosperity. As a collective work, it lacks an individual author, emphasizing communal expression over personal experience, highlighting the era’s multicultural and nomadic essence.