赠(zènɡ)汪(wānɡ)伦(lún)

李(lǐ)白(bái)〔唐(tánɡ)代(dài)〕

李(lǐ)白(bái)乘(chénɡ)舟(zhōu)将(jiānɡ)欲(yù)行(xínɡ)，

忽(hū)闻(wén)岸(àn)上(shanɡ)踏(tà)歌(ɡē)声(shēnɡ)。

桃(táo)花(huā)潭(tán)水(shuǐ)深(shēn)千(qiān)尺(chǐ)，

不(bù)及(jí)汪(wānɡ)伦(lún)送(sònɡ)我(wǒ)情(qínɡ)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

Li Bai was about to embark on a journey by boat when he suddenly heard the sound of folk dancing songs coming from the shore.
Even if the depth of Peach Blossom Pool were a thousand feet, it could not compare to the affection that Wang Lun showed me in bidding farewell.

Annotations

  • 汪伦: A friend of Li Bai’s.
  • 将欲行 (jiāng yù xíng): The act of being about to embark on a journey.
  • 踏歌 (tà gē): A popular form of song and dance in the Tang Dynasty, where people held hands and stepped on the ground to create a rhythm, allowing them to sing while walking.
  • 桃花潭 (táo huā tán): A specific location, a deep pool located in Jing County, Anhui Province, renowned for its beauty and depth.
  • 深千尺 (shēn qiān chǐ): A metaphorical expression used to emphasize the depth of the pool and, by extension, the strength of the friendship between Wang Lun and Li Bai.
  • 不及 (bù jí): Inferior to, unable to match.

Creative Background

This poem was written by Li Bai around the 14th year of Emperor Xuanzong’s Tianbao reign (755 AD) when he visited Peach Blossom Pool in Jing County (now belonging to Anhui Province) from Qiupu.

During his visit to Jing County (now in Anhui Province) and Peach Blossom Pool, Li Bai forged a deep friendship with Wang Lun. During the Kaiyuan and Tianbao reigns, Wang Lun served as the magistrate of Jing County, and Li Bai “visited him and they were so hospitable that they couldn’t bear to part.”

According to this, the poem may have been written when Wang Lun was already living in retirement at Peach Blossom Pool and Li Bai came to visit him.