Contemplation on Autumn in Jinling: A Poetic Reflection on Patriotism and Loss

In the ancient city of Jinling (present-day Nanjing), standing alone atop the Western Tower, gazing upon the autumn scenery, watching the vast river flow under the setting sun. Amidst the turmoil in the Central Plains, high officials and nobles scatter in retreat. When will we reclaim our lost lands? Please, let the sorrowful wind carry my tears to Yangzhou.

Ancient poets often ascended towers or high places to express their emotions. Wang Can reminisced about his homeland from the tower, while Du Fu lamented the “myriad hardships” faced. Xu Hun sighed with “grief over ten thousand miles” from the western tower of Xianyang. Li Shangyin, upon the tower of Anding, expressed a desire to “return to the heavens and earth in a flat-bottomed boat.” Despite the different experiences of these poets, their common ground was the expression of emotions from their lofty vantage points.

The poem begins with the poet’s observations from the tower. Before him unfolds boundless autumn scenery and a setting sun stretching across ten thousand miles. Autumn, a season of desolation and decline, is described in various ancient writings. Song Yu wrote in “Nine Laments,” “Alas, the qi of autumn, desolate and dreary, the grass and trees shake off their leaves and wither.” Du Fu also said in “Ascending Heights,” “A thousand li of sorrowful autumn, a frequent visitor.” Thus, it is said that “autumn scholars are often sad.”

Zhong Dunru, who came to Jinling as a guest from afar, stood alone on the tower of Jinling City, gazing into the distance. He saw this desolate and fragmented autumn scene, and could not help feeling a sense of sorrow for autumn. At the same time, the sunset was at dusk, and the vast land was enveloped in the faint twilight. “To hang down” means that it is just in the sunset. The afterglow was dim, and the earth was about to be overwhelmed by the vast darkness of twilight. This kind of scene is described with a very strong subjective color. Wang Guowei said, “I watch things, so everything is my color.” Zhong Dunru watched the scenery in front of him with a strong feeling of sadness for the country’s decline. He used the symbolic method to make people naturally associate the national affairs of the Southern Song Dynasty with the twilight in front of the poet’s eyes, and it would be inevitable to move toward the decline and fall of no return. The author’s mood was heavy. The second part suddenly turned to speak directly to national affairs, but it seems too sudden. In fact, it is not the case. The former has already used symbolic methods to metaphorize national affairs, and the relationship between the two is inseparable. The meaning is not shown, and it is not a sudden turn. It is a natural connection. “Gathering and Restraining” refers to the hat ornaments of aristocratic bureaucrats. The hair is used to connect the hair and the hat; the chin is the hat belt. It is a metaphor for the nobility and the scholar-officials. The Central Plains have fallen, and the nobles of the Northern Song Dynasty have scattered. This is another “clothing and cap south.” “When to recover?” This is a question raised by the author that cannot be answered. This “Central Plains turmoil, hairpin scattered” situation. When will it end? This reflects the author’s strong desire to restore the Central Plains as soon as possible and his strong desire for the old capital. It is also the indignation and protest of the court’s life and day, and does not seek recovery. The final sentence “Try to borrow the sorrowful wind to blow tears over Yangzhou.” The wind, of course, is also the author’s subjective feelings. The wind itself is not sad, but the poet’s subjective feelings are sad and feel that the wind is also sad. Wind, sad, scenery, sad, people sad, can’t help but tears. This is not just the tears of autumn, but more importantly, the tears of worrying about the country. The author wanted to ask the sad wind to blow tears to Yangzhou. Yangzhou is a key town on the front line against the Jin army, a key defense position, which shows the poet’s concern for the frontline war. The whole poem from the tower into the title, from the description to the lyrical, shows the poet’s strong pain and deep patriotism, deeply touching.