早(zǎo)发(fā)白(bái)帝(dì)城(chénɡ)

李(lǐ)白(bái)〔唐(tánɡ)代(dài)〕

朝(cháo)辞(cí)白(bái)帝(dì)彩(cǎi)云(yún)间(jiān),

千(qiān)里(lǐ)江(jiānɡ)陵(línɡ)一(yí)日(rì)还(hái)。

两(liǎnɡ)岸(àn)猿(yuán)声(shēnɡ)啼(tí)不(bú)住(zhù),

轻(qīnɡ)舟(zhōu)已(yǐ)过(ɡuò)万(wàn)重(zhònɡ)山(shān)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

In the morning, I bid farewell to the cloud-kissing Bai Di City. Jiangling is thousands of miles away, but the boat can return in just a day.

The sounds of monkeys on both banks still echo in my ears, while the light boat has already sailed past the myriad green mountains.

Annotations

发 (Fā)：To depart.

白帝城 (Bái dì chéng)：The former site is on Baidi Mountain in Fengjie County, Chongqing.

朝 (Zhāo)：Morning.

辞 (Cí)：To bid farewell.

彩云间 (Cǎi yún jiān)：Because Baidi City is located on Baidi Mountain, which is high in elevation, when viewed from the river below, it seems to be towering among the clouds.

江陵 (Jiāng líng)：Today’s Jingzhou City, Hubei Province.

猿 (Yuán)：Monkeys.

啼 (Tí)：To cry, howl.

住 (Zhù)：To stop.

万重山 (Wàn chóng shān)：Layer upon layer of mountains, indicating many mountains.

Creation Background

In the spring of AD 759 (the second year of the Qianyuan period of Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty), Li Bai was exiled to Yelang due to the Yongwang Li Lin case and passed through Chongqing.

When he arrived at Baidicheng, he suddenly received news of his pardon, and he was惊喜交加. Immediately, he took a boat down the river to Jiangling. This poem was written when the author returned to Jiangling, so the title is also known as “Descending to Jiangling.”