The Zither
- Poetry of Bai Juyi

Throughout his life, Bai Juyi loved, understood, and excelled at the art of the qin (lute), frequently referencing the instrument and music in his poetry and prose. Though brief, this poem is rich in Zen spirit and philosophy, revealing the poet's unique understanding of musical artistry, nature, and his personal attitude towards life. Using the lute as a metaphor for his aspirations, the poem expresses his disdain for ornate, artificial sounds and his reverence for the music of nature itself, reflecting a mind that sought tranquility and distance, unwilling to simply follow the current. Likely composed during his later years after retreating from public life, Bai Juyi immersed himself in landscapes, living a transcendent existence. The poem thus conveys a sense of leisurely detachment from worldly affairs.