芙蓉楼送辛渐
Seeing Xin Jian Off at Hibiscus Tower
Original
寒雨连江夜入吴，
平明送客楚山孤。
洛阳亲友如相问，
一片冰心在玉壶。
Translation
Cold rain merges with the river as it sweeps into Wu through the night,
At dawn I see you off, the Chu hills stand lone and bare.
If friends and kin in Luoyang ask after me,
Tell them my heart’s like pure ice in a jade vase.
Line by Line Analysis
About This Poem
Written during Wang Changling’s exile in the southern Yangtze region, this farewell poem captures the poignant moment of seeing off his friend Xin Jian at Hibiscus Tower on a rainy night. The opening lines paint a bleak, misty scene of cold rain merging with the vast river, setting a somber tone for the separation. At dawn, the lone Chu hill mirrors the poet’s sense of isolation after his friend departs. The closing couplet uses the iconic metaphor of 'pure ice in a jade vase' to convey his unwavering integrity: even in exile, he remains untainted by worldly corruption, reassuring his Luoyang relatives of his moral purity through this heartfelt, enduring image.
About the Poet
王昌龄
Wáng Chānglíng
Wang Changling (c. 698–757) was a prominent poet of the High Tang Dynasty, widely regarded as one of the greatest 'Frontier Poets' of his era. He gained fame for his vivid, emotionally resonant depictions of military life and frontier landscapes, as well as his profound farewell poems. His writing style is marked by concise, elegant language, rich symbolic imagery, and a unique ability to blend quiet melancholy with unyielding moral conviction, making his works enduring classics in Chinese literature.
Cultural & Historical Context
1. Historical Background: Composed in the High Tang period (712–755), a golden age of Chinese poetry marked by cultural flourishing yet underlying political strife that led to frequent official exiles. 2. Cultural Background: Farewell poems were a core genre in Tang literature, reflecting the era’s emphasis on friendship and the sorrow of separation caused by long-distance official travel or exile. 3. Social Background: Tang officials often faced relocation or exile due to factional politics, making farewells a universal emotional experience that resonated across social classes. 4. Personal Experience: Wang was exiled to Yangzhou following political conflicts, feeling isolated but resolute in upholding his moral values. 5. Purpose & Artistic Features: The poem aims to comfort his departing friend and reassure distant relatives of his uncorrupted character. Its brilliance lies in weaving desolate natural imagery with intimate emotion, and the timeless metaphor of 'ice in a jade vase'—a symbol of pure integrity that has become a cornerstone of Chinese cultural expression, elevating a personal farewell to a statement of unyielding moral conviction.