Riding the Rapids on Spring River
-to the tune of Xingxiangzi
Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo')
English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Dec. 2024)
One little canoe with two little paddles
Stirred the blue mirror of Spring River.
The wild geese, startled, lift wings to air.
Waking small fish dreaming in algae near.
To the misty bank ahead flocked the herons
To see our bumpy ride on the white waters
Through the morning frost of a sandy dale
Into a serene moon river of smooth crystal.
Beyond, a skyline of cascade mountains, --
A stream of screen art at each winding turn.
No wonder Lord Yan Lin secluded in here,
Immune to the promise of glory from Emperor.
There’s nothing like everchanging mountains --
When clear, eyes can reach lands of wonder;
When cloudy, crest’s a stage for drifting drama;
When day breaks, it’s blue haven, serene and fair.
Notes:
1. Lord Yan Lin: social name Ziling, assisted Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu of East Han dynasty) in ascending the Throne. As he harboured no interest in political ambitions, he changed his name and identity to embrace a life of seclusion here at this Spring River ( 富春江 ). The emperor valued Ziling's talents and personality, wanting to have him at his Court. Artists were dispatched to draw Yan Ziling's portrait, which was then posted far and wide in search of him. Subsequently, reports from the state of Qi indicated a man fishing in marshes while clad in a sheepskin robe. Liu Xiu suspected this was Yan Ziling and promptly dispatched envoys to summon him with carriages and gifts. Despite these efforts, Yan Ziling declined all the offers, determined to remain in seclusion here on this beautiful Spring River.
Analysis:
This little poem reads like a movie streaming before your mind’s eye – from peaceful water surface on higher terrain down through a rapid flow of white waters on the sand river to a serene world of seclusion. It’s like a life cycle, a transformation of ying and yang from peace to chaos and back to peace.
After the water subject, the poem shifts to mountains in the second stanza. By the way, mountains and rivers are another ying-yang combination of static and mobile, which often appears in Chinese paintings. The reference to the well-known story of Yan Ziling brings focus on Su Shi’s theme – the classical argument on a life for glory or a life for peace.
The Song landscape painting embraced blue and green colours in landscape painting. There’s a film just released in October in the name of Just Green and Blue (《只此青绿》) I have loved it ever since the story first appeared in the form of stage dance. Song’s art looks simple, even pretty common to the eye, but enduring as it embodies a complexity of ideas / philosophies beyond.
To enrich your understanding, you may find more pleasure in his other poem about a rapids’ ride --“The 100-Step River Rapids’ Ride” (《百步洪》) which can be found in this website.
行香子 . 过七里濑
原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋）
一叶舟轻，双桨鸿惊。
水天青，影湛波平。
鱼翻藻鉴，鹭点烟汀。
过沙溪急，霜溪冷，月溪明。
重重似画，曲曲如屏。
算当年，虚老严陵。
君臣一梦，今古空名。
但远山长，云山乱，晓山青。
Reference:
picture from Google
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