悯(mǐn)农(nónɡ)二(èr)首(shǒu)·其(qí)一(yī)

李(lǐ)绅(shēn)〔唐(tánɡ)代(dài)〕

春(chūn)种(zhǒnɡ)一(yì)粒(lì)粟(sù),

秋(qiū)收(shōu)万(wàn)颗(kē)子(zǐ)。

四(sì)海(hǎi)无(wú)闲(xián)田(tián),

农(nónɡ)夫(fū)犹(yóu)饿(è)死(sǐ)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

By sowing a seed in spring, one can harvest plenty of grain in autumn.Yet, despite no field left uncultivated, there are still farmers who starve to death.

Annotations

悯 (Mǐn)：To feel compassion; here it means to sympathize. The poem is also titled Two Ancient Poems. The order of these two poems differs in various editions.

粟 (Sù)：Generally refers to grains.

秋收 (Qiū shōu)：Also written as 秋成 (Qiū chéng). 子 (Zǐ)：Refers to individual grains.

四海 (Sì hǎi)：Refers to the whole country. 闲田 (Xián tián)：Uncultivated farmland.

犹 (Yóu)：Still, continue to be.

Creation Background

Based on the records in books such as “Yunxi Youyi” by Fan Shu of the Tang Dynasty and “Old Tang Book: Biography of Lv Wei,” it can be roughly inferred that this series of poems were written by Li Shen in the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 799).