Song of Sunrise and Sunset
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

《日出行 / 日出入行》

English Rendering

From the east the sun comes around;

It seems to rise from underground.

Crossing the sky,it sinks in the sea of the west.

Where could the six dragons driving it take their rest?

It never changes from beginning to end.

Man is not a spirit,

Could he accompany it 

As a dear friend?

Grass will not for its growth thank the spring breeze;

Leaves won't complain of autumn when fallen from trees.

Who could drive summer and winter,autumn and spring?

Nature rules over rise and fall of everything.

O Driver of the Sun,

What on the boundless waves have you done?

O Herculean Son,

How could you wield your spear to stop the Driver's run?

You go against the law divine.

What you do is quite out of line.

I would embrace the universe 

To be one with Nature for better or for worse.

Song of Sunrise and Sunset by Li Bai (Li Po)
Song of Sunrise and Sunset by Li Bai (Li Po)

Original Text (中文原文)

日出东方隈,似从地底来。历天又入海,六龙所舍安在哉。

其始与终古不息,人非元气安得与之久裴徊。

草不谢荣于春风,木不怨落于秋天。

谁挥鞭策驱四运,万物兴歇皆自然。

羲和羲和,汝奚汩没于荒淫之波。

鲁阳何德,驻景挥戈。

逆道违天,矫诬实多。

吾将囊括大块,浩然与溟涬同科。

Analysis & Context

The legend went that the Driver of the Sun rode on six dragons, but the poet doubts it and jeers at the legendary Driver and the Herculean Son who could stop his run. At last the poet would become one with Nature.

"Song of Sunrise and Sunset" is Li Bai's reflection and response to ancient myths and legends. In this poem, he presents a unique perspective on the rising and setting of the sun and the laws of nature. Li Bai critiques the traditional belief that natural phenomena are controlled by deities, emphasizing that the rise and fall of all things are natural outcomes. Through his questioning of ancient myths, the poet reveals his profound understanding of nature and his inclination toward materialist thought.

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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