North of Qingluo
The fading sun sinks behind the western hills;
At a thatched hut I visit a solitary monk.
Among fallen leaves, where is he?
Through cold clouds, how many layers of paths?
Alone he strikes the stone chime as night begins,
At ease he leans upon a vinewood staff.
If the world lies within a speck of dust,
Why should I cling to love or hate?
Notes
Qingluo is a place whose precise location is debated. A qing is a struck chime used in a temple; the vine is a walking staff. The image of a world in a speck of dust echoes Buddhist thought. The closing reflection may be heard as the monk’s or the poet’s.
Meaning
An evening visit to a monk moves from mountain paths and a chime toward reflection on the world and attachment.
Appreciation
Sunset and a hut establish a quiet visit.
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Leaves, cold clouds and layered paths make the search tangible.
A chime and a staff give the monk’s life sound and movement.
The world and a speck of dust lead to a question about attachment.
About the poet
Li Shangyin (c. 813–c. 858), courtesy name Yishan, was a late Tang poet. His family came from the area of present-day Qinyang, Henan; accounts of his dates differ.
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He served in regional offices and wrote works including The Patterned Zither and poems titled Untitled.
Readers differ on the addressee of Night Rain Sent North and the specific meaning of Chang’e.