The Cold Food Festival
In the spring city, petals fly everywhere;
At the Cold Food Festival, the east wind bends the palace willows.
At dusk candles are passed out from the palace;
Their light smoke drifts into the homes of the favoured nobles.
Notes
The Cold Food Festival was associated with a custom of avoiding fire and eating cold food. The Han palace stands for the Tang court; the five marquises evoke favoured nobles. Candles are passed out at dusk.
Meaning
The poem moves from spring flowers and palace willows to candles sent from the court to favoured households.
Appreciation
The opening moves from petals across the city to willows in the palace grounds.
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At dusk candles and light smoke make the festival setting tangible.
The custom of avoiding fire gives the favoured households’ candles a possible contrast; critics differ about the degree of satire.
Han names serve as historical references within a Tang poem rather than a literal report of Han events.
About the poet
Han Hong, courtesy name Junping, was a Tang poet from Nanyang; his dates are unknown.
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Han Hong is counted among the Ten Talents of the Dali era and served in official posts. The Cold Food Festival is among his best-known poems.