Spring View by Du Fu

春望

Historical Documentary

Year

757

Views

Synopsis

A famous five-character regulated verse poem written by Du Fu in 757 during the An Lushan Rebellion, describing the ruins of Chang'an and expressing sorrow for the nation.

Overview

Spring View (春望) is a five-character regulated verse poem written by the great Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu in 757 AD. Composed during the An Lushan Rebellion when Chang'an was occupied by rebel forces, the poem uses spring imagery to express deep sorrow for the nation's fate.

Original Text

国破山河在，城春草木深。
感时花溅泪，恨别鸟惊心。
烽火连三月，家书抵万金。
白头搔更短，浑欲不胜簪。

Translation

Line	Translation
国破山河在，城春草木深	The nation is shattered, yet mountains and rivers remain; Spring fills the city, but weeds grow deep and thick
感时花溅泪，恨别鸟惊心	Grieving for the times, flowers bring tears to my eyes; Resenting separation, birds' songs startle my heart
烽火连三月，家书抵万金	Beacon fires burn for three months without end; A letter from home is worth ten thousand pieces of gold
白头搔更短，浑欲不胜簪	My white hair, scratched ever thinner; Barely long enough now to hold a hairpin

Historical Background

The An Lushan Rebellion erupted in 755 AD. By 757, Chang'an had fallen to the rebels. Du Fu was trapped in the occupied capital. Spring arrived, nature renewed itself, but everything human had changed. The poet used the spring landscape to express anxiety about the nation's fate and longing for his family.

Legacy

Spring View is one of Du Fu's most famous patriotic poems. It has been included in Chinese primary and secondary school textbooks for generations. The line "家书抵万金" (a letter from home is worth ten thousand gold) has become one of the most quoted lines in Chinese literature.