A Message to Han Cho the Yangzhou Magistrate
- Poetry of Du Mu
There are faint green mountains and far green waters,
And grasses in this river region not yet faded by autumn;
And clear in the moon on the Twenty-Four Bridges,
Girls white as jade are teaching flute-music.
Seven-character-quatrain
This poem was written between 833 and 835 AD during the reign of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty. At the time, Du Mu was serving as an assistant official under Niu Sengru, the military governor of Huainan, and later as a secretary. After leaving Yangzhou, Du Mu remained deeply attached to the scenic beauty and vibrant life of Jiangnan (the region south of the Yangtze River). This poem, written in remembrance of Jiangnan and in jest to his friend Han Chuo, blends nostalgia with a touch of playful elegance.
青山隐隐水迢迢，秋尽江南草未凋。
二十四桥明月夜，玉人何处教吹箫。
- 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.