咏怀古迹五首·其一 Recollections of the Past- Part One
支离东北风尘际，漂泊西南天地间。
zhī lí dōng běi fēng chén jì ， piāo bó xī nán tiān dì jiān 。
In the fractured northeast, midst the swirling dust's embrace, I wandered to the southwest, through this vast and boundless space.
三峡楼台淹日月，五溪衣服共云山。
sān xiá lóu tái yān rì yuè ， wǔ xī yī fú gòng yún shān 。
Within Three Gorges' towers, the sun and moon submerged from view, While Five Creeks' people, cloaked like clouds, in harmony they grew.
羯胡事主终无赖，词客哀时且未还。
jié hú shì zhǔ zhōng wú lài ， cí kè āi shí qiě wèi huán 。
Through tumultuous times and fickle lords, my heart remained forlorn, A wordsmith of the present age, with lamentations yet unborn.
庾信平生最萧瑟，暮年诗赋动江关。
yǔ xìn píng shēng zuì xiāo sè ， mù nián shī fù dòng jiāng guān 。
Yu Xin, his lifetime witnessed the most desolate scenes, In his later years, his verse moved souls by Jiangguan's serene streams.
Background
This collection of poems is a heartfelt tribute to historical relics and their profound connections to the past. They were composed during the Tang Dynasty in 766 AD as the poet embarked on a journey through several significant sites, such as the homes of renowned individuals and locations tied to ancient history.
These poems beautifully express the author's deep respect for heroes, beauty and statesmen of days past. Each verse carries emotional sentiments and serves as a poignant homage to the enduring legacies of these historical figures and landmarks.
Overview
This is the first poem in the collection of five. It starts by celebrating the poet Yu Xin, emphasizing the admiration he holds for the poetry of Yu Xin (庾信).
Du Fu was significantly influenced by Yu Xin's work and once praised him, saying, "The pure and fresh Yu, the Chief Minister," (“清新庾开府”) comparing his writings to matured wine. (“庾信文章老更成“)
At the same time, the author was preparing to undertake a journey to Jiangling (江陵), mirroring Yu Xin`s travels. This parallel journey underscores Du Fu`s connection and reverence for his legacy.
The poem commences by reflecting on the An Lushan Rebellion and Du Fu`s own experience of drifting without a settled home. It then delves into the exile in the Three Gorges (三峡) and the Five Creeks (五溪), where the author lived among the local people.
The poem goes on to describe the cunning and duplicity of An Lushan (安史乱), similar to the rebel leader Hou Jing (侯景) during the Liang Dynasty (梁朝). The author's nomadic existence away from his homeland, yearning to return but unable to do so, mirrors the trials of Yu Xin from that era.
Finally, it portrays the poignant and somber tone of Yu Xin's later work, "Lament for the South of the Yangtze," 《哀江南赋》which serves as an implicit expression of the author's longing for his own homeland. The poem masterfully blends vivid descriptions of scenes with heartfelt emotions, drawing from the author's personal experiences and offering profound insights, leaving the reader with much to contemplate.
Line Breakdown
支离东北风尘际，漂泊西南天地间。
In the fractured northeast, midst the swirling dust's embrace, I wandered to the southwest, through this vast and boundless space.
The first stanza summarizes all of Du Fu's experiences since the An Lushan Rebellion. After the An Lushan Rebellion, Du Fu fled from Chang'an (长安) to Fuzhou (鄜州). He intended to travel to Lingwu but was captured and taken back to Chang'an. After the recapture of Chang'an, he was exiled to Huazhou (华州). Eventually, he abandoned his official post and lived as a guest in Qinzhou (秦州). He traveled through Tonggu Pass and entered Sichuan, hence the phrase “支离东北风尘际” (Scattered by the northeast wind and dust.)
During this time, the warfare was intense, hence the mention of "swirling dust." (风尘际) After entering Sichuan, he lived in Chengdu for approximately five years, then moved between Chengdu, Zizhou, and Langzhou for another year. Following the death of Yan Wu, he traveled from Chengdu to Yun'an, and from there to Kuizhou, hence the description “漂泊西南天地间” (I wandered to the southwest, through this vast and boundless space)
This stanza is a straightforward account of his experiences, reflecting his deep emotions and profound sense of displacement.
三峡楼台淹日月，五溪衣服共云山。
Within Three Gorges' towers, the sun and moon submerged from view, While Five Creeks' people, cloaked like clouds, in harmony they grew.
The second stanza continues from the previous one, describing his sojourn in the southwestern region. Here, the scenery and lifestyle differ significantly. Houses are perched along the mountains, layered and towering high, almost seeming to obscure the sun and moon. The inhabitants of these mountainous areas are mostly descendants of the ancient Wu tribes from the Five Streams (古时五溪蛮), as indicated by their distinctive attire with trailing garments in various colors, residing harmoniously with the clouds and the mountain ranges.
羯胡事主终无赖，词客哀时且未还。
Through tumultuous times and fickle lords, my heart remained forlorn, A wordsmith of the present age, with lamentations yet unborn.
The third stanza delves into the causes of his drifting and disarray. These two lines work in tandem because they serve both as an expression of his own reflections and as an ode to the historical figure, Yu Xin. In essence, it's both a personal reflection and a recollection of the past, hence it not only continues from the previous text but also sets the stage for the following verses.
The similarity lies in the rebellions during their respective periods. While Du Fu endured the turmoil of the An Lushan Rebellion, Yu Xin experienced the chaos of the Hou Jing Rebellion. Du Fu's life was marked by dislocation and wandering, making him profoundly affected by the contemporary turbulence. Likewise, Yu Xin was held in the Northern Dynasty during his lifetime and penned "Lament of the South of the Yangtze" (哀江南赋) due to a similar tumultuous period. Because of these common experiences, there's an underlying sense of empathy, a feeling of "shared affliction," (同病相怜) between the two.
Due to this dual purpose, these lines not only build on the preceding text but also set the stage for what follows.
庾信平生最萧瑟，暮年诗赋动江关。
Yu Xin, his lifetime witnessed the most desolate scenes, In his later years, his verse moved souls by Jiangguan's serene streams.
The final stanza seamlessly continues from the previous one, describing how Yu Xin was held captive in the Northern Dynasty (北朝) for an extended period. During this time, he often experienced desolation and melancholy. However, as he entered his twilight years, he transformed his poetic style. His once ornate and luxurious verses turned into somber and robust expressions. He frequently conveyed his longing for his homeland, and his poignant emotions touched the hearts of those near the "Jiangguan" (江关) region.