The Ruin of the Capital of Yue
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
The King of Yue returned,having destroyed the foe,
His loyal men came home,with silken dress aglow,
His palace thronged with flower-like ladies fair;
Now we see but a frock of partridges flying there.
The King of Yue destroyed the kingdom of Wu in the 5th century B.C.
This poem is a work of historical reflection. By depicting the triumphant return of King Goujian of Yue after defeating the State of Wu during the Spring and Autumn period and the subsequent desolation of his kingdom, the poet expresses a deep contemplation on the rise and fall of history. King Goujian, renowned for his perseverance symbolized by the phrase "sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall," ultimately conquered Wu but failed to sustain Yue's prosperity, leaving behind a profound historical lesson.
越王勾践破吴归，义士还家尽锦衣。
宫女如花满春殿，只今惟有鹧鸪飞。
- 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.
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