竹石

The full translation of 'Bamboo Rooted in Rock' is: 'Clenched fast to the green hill, never loosening its hold, / Its roots are embedded deep in the cracked rock, / Battered by thousands of blows, it remains firm and tough, / Unfazed by winds from east, west, north, or south.' Composed in Zheng Xie’s later years after resigning from his official post, the poem uses the tenacious bamboo as a metaphor for unyielding moral integrity. Set against the backdrop of his disillusionment with corrupt officialdom, the vivid imagery of the bamboo enduring harsh natural trials mirrors the poet’s resolve to stay true to his principles, refusing to compromise with worldly pressures. It conveys a timeless message of resilience, inspiring readers to uphold their beliefs amid adversity.

About the Poet

郑

郑燮

Zhèng Xiè

Zheng Xie (1693-1765), courtesy name Banqiao, was a prominent literatus of the Qing Dynasty, celebrated as one of the 'Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou'. A master of the 'three perfections'—poetry, calligraphy, and painting—he specialized in depicting bamboos and orchids, infusing his works with raw, authentic sentiment. His literary style is marked by straightforwardness and unyielding vigor, often reflecting his sympathy for the downtrodden and his disdain for official hypocrisy.

Cultural & Historical Context

Historical Background: In the mid-Qing Dynasty, Yangzhou became a bustling commercial center that fostered a community of free-spirited literati who rejected rigid imperial academic norms, giving rise to the 'Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou', a group Zheng Xie was a key part of. Cultural Background: Rooted in Confucian 'virtue comparison' ideology, bamboo is a core symbol of a gentleman’s virtues—resilience, modesty, and unwavering integrity in traditional Chinese culture, making it a recurring motif in Zheng’s works. Social Background: The Qing officialdom was plagued by corruption and nepotism, forcing literati to choose between conforming for power or preserving their integrity in seclusion. Zheng chose the latter after failing to alleviate local famines due to bureaucratic red tape. Personal Experience: After resigning from his magistrate post, Zheng made a living selling paintings in Yangzhou, where he embraced a bohemian lifestyle and used art to voice his disdain for hypocrisy. Creative Purpose & Artistic Features: The poem’s core purpose is to express the poet’s unyielding spirit through the metaphor of bamboo rooted in rock. Its artistic strength lies in plain, vivid language that avoids ornate rhetoric, seamlessly blending poetic imagery with Zheng’s iconic bamboo paintings, creating a cohesive expression of moral fortitude that resonates across generations.