江(jiānɡ)雪(xuě)

柳(liǔ)宗(zōnɡ)元(yuán)〔唐(tánɡ)代(dài)〕

千(qiān)山(shān)鸟(niǎo)飞(fēi)绝(jué)，

万(wàn)径(jìnɡ)人(rén)踪(zōnɡ)灭(miè)。

孤(ɡū)舟(zhōu)蓑(suō)笠(lì)翁(wēnɡ)，

独(dú)钓(diào)寒(hán)江(jiānɡ)雪(xuě)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

On all the mountains, the figures of birds have disappeared, and on all the roads, there are no traces of humans. On a lonely boat on the river, an old man wearing a straw raincoat and bamboo hat is fishing alone in the snowstorm.
 

Annotations

  • 绝 (Jué): None, not existing.
  •  万径 (Wànjìng): A figure of speech, referring to thousands of paths.
  •  人踪 (Rénzōng): Human footprints.
  •  孤 (Gū): Lonely.
  •  蓑笠 (Suōlì): Raincoat and bamboo hat. Lì means a hat made of bamboo strips.
  •  独 (Dú): Alone.

Creation Backgrounds

This poem was written during Liu Zongyuan’s exile to Yongzhou (805-815). In the first year of Emperor Tang Shunzong’s Yongzhen reign (805), Liu Zongyuan participated in the Yongzhen Reform Movement led by Wang Shuwen.

The reform failed quickly, and Liu Zongyuan was demoted to serve as a clerk in Yongzhou, where he was exiled for ten years.