Mooring on the Qinhuai River
Mist veils the cold water; moonlight veils the sand.
At night I moor on the Qinhuai near a wine house.
The singing women seem unaware of the grief of a fallen state;
Across the river they still sing Courtyard Flowers.
Notes
Bó means to moor a boat. The Qinhuai flows through present-day Nanjing. A shāngnǚ is a professional singer. Courtyard Flowers refers to a song later associated with the fall of the Chen dynasty; interpretations often see the criticism directed beyond the singers to those enjoying the song.
Meaning
Mist and moonlight cover the river as a boat moors near a wine house. Across the water, singers perform a song associated with a fallen dynasty, provoking the speaker’s historical reflection.
Appreciation
A misty river scene gives way to a song that calls up memories of political decline.
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The repeated verb “veils” joins mist, water, moon and sand in one soft image.
The song evokes the fall of Chen. A common reading sees the criticism aimed at complacent listeners rather than the performers earning their living.
Separate what the speaker sees from what is heard, then explore the historical reference.
About the poet
Du Mu (803–852), courtesy name Muzhi, was a Tang poet and official from the area of present-day Xi’an. His works include Mountain Journey, Spring in Jiangnan and the prose-poem Efang Palace.
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Life: Du Mu held posts in the Yangzhou area and later served in regional offices, including Huangzhou and Chizhou.
Works: Alongside Qingming, his well-known writing includes Mountain Journey, Spring in Jiangnan and Efang Palace.