“Reflections on Solitude and Transcendence: Su Shi’s Poetry of Departure”
In the realm of classical Chinese poetry, Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, stands as a towering figure whose verses resonate with deep philosophical musings and poignant reflections on life’s transience. His poem “Drinking at Night in Dongpo, Awakening and Drunken Again” captures a moment of introspection and yearning amidst societal pressures and personal struggles.
The poem begins with Su Shi in the midst of a night of revelry in Dongpo, a place where he sought solace during his exile in Huangzhou. Intoxicated yet awake, he returns home well past midnight. The household servants, already deep in slumber with thunderous snores, do not respond to his knocking. Left to himself, he leans on his cane and listens to the roaring sound of the river.
The phrase “Long regret this body is not mine own, when will I forget the bustling and rushing?” encapsulates Su Shi’s existential pondering. Having experienced the tumultuous life of courtly ambitions and material pursuits, he yearns for liberation from worldly entanglements. In the calm of the night, with the wind still and the river’s surface smooth, he envisions departing on a small boat, drifting away on rivers, lakes, and seas, seeking solace for the rest of his days.
Composed in the fifth year of the Yuanfeng era, during Su Shi’s third year of exile in Huangzhou, the poem exemplifies a style that is both clear and elegant, conveying the poet’s retreat from societal obligations and his aspiration for spiritual transcendence. The opening lines “Night drinking in Dongpo, awake and drunk again” vividly depict the revelry and intoxication of the night. The repetition of awakening and drunkenness reflects his unabashed indulgence in the moment. The phrase “as if returning at the third watch” poetically captures the hazy state of his inebriation.
Arriving back at his residence, Su Shi lingers at the doorstep, where “the house servant’s breath is like thunder. Knocking on the door yields no response, leaning on a staff to listen to the river sound.” These lines portray a self-sufficient and free-spirited character, an isolated figure in society who remains undeterred by the material world’s concerns. Immersed in his contemplation of the quiet night, Su Shi’s poetic expression blends with the scenery, creating a serene and melancholic atmosphere that invites introspection and contemplation.
The second part of the poem begins with a profound sigh: “Long regret this body is not mine own, when will I forget the bustling and rushing?” This deep and introspective sigh directly expresses the poet’s personal feelings and philosophical insights, showing his deep emotions, speaking from the heart, and therefore has a kind of moving power. The commentary on the poem uses philosophical language to express the political thoughts of Su Shi, who suffered a heavy setback and then sought a change in Daoist thought. These two sentences are rich in philosophical discussion, full of the artist’s feelings of experience, and full of deep feelings, therefore has a feeling of power. 此