Unequal Lives Under the Stars
In the vast plains and under the same sky, the lives of people can be strikingly different. The poem below captures the stark contrasts between the privileged and the common folk, their struggles, and their enduring hope:
“Though the round gui of the peasant house is full of cooked food, a curved spoon made of spiny branches is stuck on it.
The road to the capital is as flat as a millstone and as straight as an arrow.
The princes and nobles could walk on it, but the common people could only stare at it with empty eyes.
I look back on these things with sadness and anger, and I can’t help weeping and wetting my clothes.
Far away from Kyoto, the Oriental big country small state, the shuttle on the loom has been empty.
Small people wearing kudzu shoes tied with thick twine, have no choice but to tread barefoot in the frost.
On the contrary, those frivolous gentlemen, strutting on the wide road.
They come and go in a big way, and often, that shameless look makes my heart break.
The mountain springs are cold, so don’t soak the firewood you just cut.
I woke up from my nightly dreaming and sighed softly, secretly pitying me for being a sickly laborer.
I cut down these long and short firewood, and I can still load them into the car and carry them to my home.
I pity myself that I am a sickly and laborious man, and that I should have a moment’s rest for my body.
The subjects of the great eastern states and the small states, ah, are tired and no one comes to comfort them.
The princes and nobles of the western vassal states are all dressed in brightly colored and luxurious clothes.
Those who ferry boats for a living, five or six people wearing bear fur clothing.
And the sons and daughters of those vassals, any official position can be filled.
The eastern nationals may think it is fine wine, the western nobles do not think it is sweet syrup.
Giving the eastern nationals is Linglong jade pendant, the western nobles do not think it is a collection.
Looking up at the brilliant Milky Way in the sky, like a mirror glittering with light.
Just see the three-legged star Vega, all day and night seven times to shift running busy.
Although the day and night seven shift running busy, finally can not weave into a beautiful article.
Look at the bright star Altair, also can’t be like the real oxen pulling the carriage on earth.
Whether it is the star of enlightenment in the eastern sky, the shining star of Changgeng in the western sky.
Or is it the crooked and long star Tian Bi in the wickerwork, which joins the Milky Way in a crooked way.
The southern sky, though the star Min shines, is not able to be used to lift up the chaff.
The northern sky, though the star of the dipper shines brightly, is not like a dipper used to drink wine.
Though the star in the southern sky shine brightly, it is only a long, long, long tongue.
The northern sky, though the star of the dipper shines brightly, is like a long handle held high from the west to scoop up the east.”
This long poem is structured meticulously, with clear layers and intricate metaphors. It begins with a depiction of the disparity in food, comparing the luxurious meals of the nobles to the meager provisions of the common folk. The nobles stroll along the flat, arrow-straight roads, while the commoners can only watch with empty eyes. The poet’s heart is filled with sorrow as he reflects on these injustices, shedding tears that soak his clothes.
In the second part, the focus shifts to clothing. The weaving looms of the distant eastern lands are empty, and the common folk wear rough shoes tied with coarse hemp, their feet exposed to the cold frost. Meanwhile, the frivolous sons of nobility stride arrogantly on the wide roads, their shameless demeanor causing the poet heartache.
The third section uses the metaphor of firewood to describe labor. The poet warns against wetting the freshly cut wood in the cold springs, symbolizing the need for the weary and sick people to rest and recuperate. If the wood is soaked, it will rot and become useless, just as the people will be unable to endure if they are continuously oppressed without respite.
In the fourth part, the poet contrasts the unequal treatment of people. The hardworking sons of the eastern lands receive no respite, while the nobles in the west wear splendid clothes. Even the lowest-ranking members of the western nobility are well-dressed, and their servants’ children easily obtain positions. This stark contrast highlights the vast inequality in social and economic status between the rulers and the ruled.
The fifth section transitions from earthly injustices to the celestial realm. The poet looks up at the bright Milky Way and the stars, expressing his despair that even the heavens seem to ignore the plight of the people. The bright stars like Vega, Altair, and the constellations in both the eastern and western skies fail to alleviate the suffering of the common folk.
In the final section, the poet delves deeper into the celestial imagery. He laments that the stars, though bright and numerous, cannot fulfill the practical needs of the people. The stars, like the noblemen, are beautiful but ultimately useless in addressing the real problems faced by the common folk. This critique of the celestial bodies is a metaphor for the poet’s frustration with the ruling class, who are as distant and indifferent as the stars.
The poem’s artistic techniques—symbolism, metaphor, and vivid contrasts—create a rich and fantastical imagery. It seamlessly blends the real and the imaginary, reflecting the harsh realities of life with a touch of romanticism. This blend of realism and romanticism, along with the poem’s intricate structure and deep emotional resonance, make it a powerful critique of social inequality and oppression.
The poem’s themes remain relevant today. The stark contrast between the lives of the privileged and the common people, the struggle for fairness and justice, and the longing for a better life are universal and timeless issues. The poet’s use of celestial imagery to critique earthly injustices adds a layer of depth, suggesting that these problems are as old and enduring as the stars themselves.
In conclusion, “” is a poignant and powerful depiction of the struggles faced by the common people in ancient China. Through its vivid imagery, intricate structure, and deep emotional resonance, the poem highlights the enduring issues of social inequality and the longing for justice and fairness. The poet’s use of celestial metaphors adds a timeless quality to the poem, making it a universal critique of oppression and a call for a more equitable society.