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江(jiānɡ)南(nán)

汉(hàn)乐(yuè)府(fǔ)〔两(liǎnɡ)汉(hàn)〕

江(jiānɡ)南(nán)可(kě)采(cǎi)莲(lián)，莲(lián)叶(yè)何(hé)田(tián)田(tián)。

鱼(yú)戏(xì)莲(lián)叶(yè)间(jiān)。

鱼(yú)戏(xì)莲(lián)叶(yè)东(dōnɡ)，鱼(yú)戏(xì)莲(lián)叶(yè)西(xī)，

鱼(yú)戏(xì)莲(lián)叶(yè)南(nán)，鱼(yú)戏(xì)莲(lián)叶(yè)北(běi)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry:

It’s the season for lotus picking in the regions south of the Yangtze River once again. The lotus leaves float gracefully above the water, crowded and overlapping, fluttering in the breeze. Beneath the lush, umbrella-like lotus leaves, joyful fish frolic and play continuously.
One moment they dart to the east among the lotus leaves, the next to the west, then to the south, and finally to the north; it’s hard to tell where exactly they are.

Annotations:

  • 汉乐府: Originally, it was an official bureau established in the early Han Dynasty for collecting poems and composing music. Later, it specifically referred to the folk songs collected and compiled by this bureau.
  • 田田: Describes the lush and abundant appearance of lotus leaves.
  • 可: Here, it means “suitable” or “just right.”

Creation Background:

“Regions South of the Yangtze River” is a lotus-picking song from the Han Dynasty. Regarding the creation background of this poem, scholars have different opinions. Some say it’s a love song, with “fish frolicking among lotus leaves” as a metaphor for romantic love between men and women. Others argue that it merely depicts the joy of labor life.