Sh i P oe t ry : anC i e n t anD r e C e n t s t y l e s 309expression of highly wrought emotion. So distinct did the general tone of Song
poetry come to be from its Tang counterpart that, in the later imperial periods,
through the Ming and Qing, it became almost a necessity for poets and critics alike
to declare a preference for either the Tang or the Song style, although the richness
of both periods makes a strict dichotomy suspect, especially since the nature of the
Song style is difficult to describe precisely.
I present in this chapter particularly well known Song dynasty poems—ones that
are widely anthologized—and comment on aspects of them that are often taken as
representative of Song poetic style.
C 1 5. 1
Small Plum Tree in a Garden in the Hills, No. 1When all other flowers have fallen, it alone shows warmth and beauty
2 Taking charge of all romantic feeling in the small garden.
Spare shadows slant across waters that are clear and shallow,
4 Hidden fragrance hangs and drifts under a moon hazy and dim.
The frosty bird wants to alight but steals a glance at it first,
6 If powder-dabbed butterflies knew of it, their hearts would break.
Luckily, chanting poetic lines softly I’m able to befriend it,
8 No need for the singing girl’s clappers or a golden goblet of wine.
[QSS 2:2.1217–1218]
❀
山園小梅 (shāng yuán xiăo méi)
many flowers shake fall alone warmth beauty 衆芳搖落獨暄妍 (zhòng fāng yáo luò dú xuān yán)
occupy fully wind emotions toward small garden 占盡風情向小園 (zhàn jìn fēng qíng xiàng xiăo yuán)
sparse shadows extend slant water clear shallow 疏影橫斜水清淺 (shū yĭng héng xié shuĭ qīng qiăn)
hidden fragrance float move moon brown hazy 暗香浮動月黃昏 (àn xiāng fú dòng yuè huáng hūn)
frost bird want descend first steal look 霜禽欲下先偷眼 (shuāng qín yù xià xiān tōu yăn)
powder butterfly if know ought to break soul 粉蝶如知合斷魂 (fĕn dié rú zhī hé duàn hún)
lucky have soft chanting may mutually befriend 幸有微吟可相狎 (xìng yŏu wēi yín kĕ xiāng xiá)
not necessary sandalwood clappers share golden goblet 不須檀板共金樽 (bù xū tán băn gòng jīn zūn)
[Tonal pattern I, see p. 171]
This poem, by Lin Bu (967–1028), is a celebration of the quiet beauty of the
plum blossom. It belongs to the category of works known as yongwu shi (poems
on things), an important subgenre of Chinese poems (thematic table of contents
2.10). Poems on things seek to capture not just the appearance but the inner mean-
ing and essence of their subjects. Many of the favorite subjects of such poems
have special significance in Chinese culture, being perceived as embodiments of
human attributes or values, or at least as reminders of them. The plum blossom
certainly belongs to this group. The plum is the first of the flowering trees to blos-
som in the early spring. The Chinese spring begins on New Year’s Day, which, by