绝句·迟日江山丽

Quatrain: Chí Rì Jiāng Shān Lì (Beautiful Spring Landscapes)

杜甫(Dù Fǔ)

Original

迟日江山丽,

春风花草香。

泥融飞燕子,

沙暖睡鸳鸯。

Translation

The sun of spring gilds the hills and rivers with charm,

Spring breeze carries the scent of flowers and grass.

Swallows flit over melting mud,

Mandarin ducks doze on warm sand.

Line by Line Analysis

1
chí
jiāng
shān

The sun of spring gilds the hills and rivers with charm,

2
chūn
fēng
huā
cǎo
xiāng

Spring breeze carries the scent of flowers and grass.

3
róng
fēi
yàn

Swallows flit over melting mud,

4
shā
nuǎn
shuì
yuān
yāng

Mandarin ducks doze on warm sand.

About This Poem

This quatrain vividly captures spring’s serene beauty through Du Fu’s lyrical precision. The opening lines paint a sun-drenched landscape: 'The sun of spring gilds the hills and rivers with charm,' and 'Spring breeze carries the scent of flowers and grass,' inviting the reader into a world of lush greenery and sweet fragrance. The latter half contrasts dynamic energy with tranquil stillness: swallows flit over softening mud, their wings a blur of activity, while mandarin ducks rest serenely on warm sand. Written in Chengdu during a brief period of stability, this poem radiates peace despite Du Fu’s later turmoil. It celebrates nature’s harmony and life’s simple joys, reflecting the poet’s enduring hope and appreciation for beauty amidst chaos.

About the Poet

杜甫

Dù Fǔ

Du Fu (712–770), a towering poet of the Tang Dynasty, is revered as the 'Poet Sage.' His poetry, rooted in realism, vividly documents social upheaval and common people’s suffering during the An Lushan Rebellion, earning the title 'poetic history.' A master of strict verse forms, his style blends profound melancholy with lyrical depth, marked by precise language and emotional resonance, making him a cornerstone of Chinese literary realism.

Cultural & Historical Context

1. Historical Background: The Tang Dynasty’s golden age (618–907) saw cultural flourishing, though the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763) shattered prosperity. This poem likely dates to Du Fu’s respite in Chengdu (759–765), a rare period of calm after decades of exile and hardship. 2. Cultural Background: Tang poetry thrived on regulated forms like quatrains (jueju). Du Fu mastered these, balancing artistic beauty with social critique, exemplifying 'lyrical realism'—merging nature imagery with emotional depth. 3. Social Background: Post-rebellion China faced political fragmentation, economic decline, and mass displacement. Poetry became a vessel for both aesthetic expression and social reflection, with Du Fu’s work standing as a mirror of the era. 4. Personal Experience: Du Fu endured poverty, exile, and loss, yet moments in Chengdu allowed creative renewal. This poem reflects his gratitude for life’s quiet pleasures, a contrast to his later suffering. 5. Creative Purpose & Artistic Features: Du Fu aimed to celebrate nature’s resilience and human connection to it. The poem uses dual imagery—swallows’ flight and mandarin ducks’ repose—to highlight life’s dynamic balance. Tactile details ('melting mud,' 'warm sand') and sensory language ('scent of flowers') create a multisensory experience, while strict parallelism and concise phrasing exemplify classical Chinese verse craftsmanship.