江南春
Spring in the Southern Yangtze Region
Original
千里莺啼绿映红，
水村山郭酒旗风。
南朝四百八十寺，
多少楼台烟雨中。
Translation
For thousands of miles, orioles warble 'midst green and red hues;
By riverside villages, hilltop towns, wine flags dance in the breeze;
The Southern Dynasties boasted four hundred and eighty temples;
How many pavilions and towers stand veiled in mist and rain?
Line by Line Analysis
About This Poem
"Spring in the Southern Yangtze Region" is a masterpiece that seamlessly merges exuberant natural beauty with profound historical introspection. Written during Du Mu’s travels through the lush Yangtze Delta, the poem opens with a vibrant panoramic view of spring: thousands of miles of landscapes where orioles sing amid colorful foliage, riverside villages and hilltop towns adorned with fluttering wine flags. Beneath this idyllic scene lies a nostalgic meditation on the Southern Dynasties, when Buddhism flourished and hundreds of grand temples were constructed. The mist and rain shrouding these ancient structures evoke a sense of transience, as the poet contrasts the timeless, cyclical charm of spring with the fleeting glory of human-made grandeur, pondering the impermanence of power and the quiet endurance of nature.
About the Poet
杜牧
Dù Mù
Du Mu (803–852) was a distinguished poet and essayist of the late Tang Dynasty, widely regarded as one of the leading figures of the era’s literary scene. Holding various official posts throughout his career, he combined sharp historical insight with vivid, lyrical imagery in his works. His poetry often weaves nostalgic reflections on the past with delicate depictions of natural landscapes, characterized by concise language, profound emotional resonance, and a unique blend of elegance and satirical depth.
Cultural & Historical Context
1. Historical Background: The Southern Dynasties (420–589) were an era of political fragmentation in China, marked by frequent regime shifts yet thriving cultural and religious development. Buddhism gained unprecedented influence, with emperors and aristocrats funding hundreds of temple constructions across the southern Yangtze region. 2. Cultural Background: By the late Tang Dynasty, Buddhism remained a dominant cultural force, but critics like Du Mu questioned the excessive resources poured into religious institutions, which often strained state finances. 3. Social Background: Du Mu lived in a declining phase of the Tang Dynasty, plagued by corruption, peasant uprisings, and weak imperial authority; his historical reflections subtly mirrored contemporary anxieties about societal excess and decay. 4. Personal Experience: When composing this poem, Du Mu was traveling to escape political setbacks in his official career, seeking solace in the region’s natural and historical sites, which fueled his reflective, melancholic mood. 5. Creative Purpose & Artistic Features: The poem aims to lament the futility of excessive religious spending and the transience of human power, while celebrating nature’s timeless beauty. Artistically, it uses striking contrast between vibrant spring scenery and mist-shrouded ancient temples, employs a panoramic-to-intimate narrative structure, and blends concise lyrical language with profound philosophical depth, making it a quintessential work of late Tang poetry.