Nostalgic Yearning for Home
Water flows continuously, returning to the Qi River. I miss my homeland of Wei State, and there’s not a day I don’t think about it. I share my thoughts with my good sisters from the Ji family, discussing the situation with them. Recalling our initial meeting at Ji Di, where we had a farewell banquet in Ni Yi. Women marry into other states, leaving their parents and brothers behind. Before leaving, I bade farewell to my aunt and good sisters. If I could return home to stay, the farewell place would be Yan. The axle of the cart is well-oiled, and it runs happily towards my homeland. Speeding back to Wei State, there would be no consequences? My thoughts are in Fei Quan, constantly sighing. Thinking of Xu Cheng and Cao Yi, my sorrow has no end. Driving the carriage to travel, I try to relieve my sorrow.
The first chapter of this poem starts with the lines “The spring water flows into the Qi,” using the imagery of spring water flowing into the Qi River to metaphorically express the poet’s desire to return home. These lines, like the first two lines of “The Boat of Baizhou” in the “Songs of Bin,” use the words “that” and “also” to set the tone. The poet’s emotions are mournful and indirect, thus pointing out the theme of the poem – “, Thinking Every Day.” The poet is deeply connected to Wei State, but due to changes in the homeland and etiquette, she cannot return, feeling extremely aggrieved and anxious. As a woman, in such a situation, she first thinks of her sisters, thus leading to the lines “Discuss with the Ji sisters.” The protagonist wants to confide in them, hoping they can come up with a plan, even if it doesn’t help, it can alleviate her worries.
The second and third chapters continue from the first, using descriptive methods to express the poet’s deep longing for Wei State. The second chapter describes the poet’s desire to return but cannot, imagining the farewell banquet with her family when she married into Wei State. Now, time has passed, and she is worried about her family’s current situation, making her desire to return even stronger. The third chapter seems to repeat the second but is a reflection within a reflection, imagining the scenes on the way back to her homeland. The speed of the cart reflects the urgency of the protagonist’s mood. Quick departure and return are reasonable, but ultimately it cannot be done, “no harm” is implicit. These two chapters are completely fictional, creating a winding and graceful poem.
The fourth chapter writes about the unfulfilled desire to return, considering traveling to relieve worries but thinking of Wei State makes the sorrow deepen. “Thinking of Fei Quan, constantly sighing,” expressing sorrow; “Thinking of Xu Cheng and Cao Yi, my sorrow deepens,” the mood is even more layered.
The Qing dynasty scholar Chen Jikui praised this poem for its artistic technique of using fiction to portray reality, highlighting the protagonist’s genuine and deep longing through ethereal descriptions.