The Zither
- Poetry of Bai Juyi
On the curved bench, the zither laid,
I sit with thoughts in languor swayed.
Why pluck the strings with artful hand?
The wind will make them understand.
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.
置琴曲机上，慵坐但含情。
何烦故挥弄，风弦自有声。
- Why Chinese poems is so special?
- The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
- How to read a Chinese poem?
- Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.