English Rendering
May’s pomegranates blaze with crimson light,
First fruits peep through leaves, small and bright.
No carriage dust stains this lonely place—
Only scarlet petals kiss moss in grace.
Pomegranate Blossoms at Zhang’s Lodge
- Poetry of Han Yu
《题张十一旅舍三咏榴花》Original Text (中文原文)
五月榴花照眼明，枝间时见子初成。
可怜此地无车马，颠倒青苔落绛英。
Meaning & Analysis
Composed during Han Yu's exile to Yangshan (806-807 CE) after his remonstrance incurred imperial wrath, this poem transforms a courtyard pomegranate into a double portrait of disgraced scholars—both the poet and his host Zhang Shiyi suffered southern banishment. Through floral allegory, Han Yu articulates the paradox of intellectual brilliance flourishing in political wilderness, where nature's vibrancy underscores human neglect.
Related Themes
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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