English Rendering
To the Capital you go, where the high tombs stand;
My sword is worth a thousand gold, as you understand.
At parting, I ungird it, and give it to you here —
With it, I give the only heart I’ve owned for many a year.
Farewell to Zhu Da Leaving for the Capital
- Poetry of Meng Haoran
《送朱大入秦》
Original Text (中文原文)
游人五陵去，宝剑值千金。
分手脱相赠，平生一片心。
Analysis & Context
This work is a renowned piece among Meng Haoran's farewell poems, composed during the High Tang period. It vividly exemplifies the chivalrous spirit of "honoring one's word above a thousand pieces of gold" and the profound camaraderie characteristic of the literati interactions of that era. While the historical details of "Zhu the Great" remain obscure, traveling "into Qin" (towards the Chang'an region) typically related to seeking office, scholarly travel, or assuming a post, reflecting the period's ethos where intellectuals actively pursued public service and formed friendships across the land.
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.
- Farewell to Zhu Da Leaving for the Capital
- Dawn View Afloat
- From Qin Country to the Buddhist Priest Yuan
- Returning at Night to Lumen Mountain
- Mount Lu Viewed from Xunyang at Dusk
- Seeing off Du Shisi South of the River
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
The Masters' Directory
Journey through the dynasties. Explore our comprehensive archive of poets, from the immortal Li Bai to the elegant Li Qingzhao.
View All Poets →