Leyou Plain
Toward evening, my mood is unsettled;
I drive to the ancient plain.
The setting sun is infinitely beautiful—
Yet evening is drawing near.
Notes
Leyou Plain was a place for a broad view near Chang’an, present-day Xi’an. Xiàngwǎn means toward evening; yì bù shì describes an uneasy mood. Zhǐshì is often read as “yet,” though its precise force has been debated.
Meaning
Feeling unsettled toward evening, the speaker visits Leyou Plain and sees a beautiful setting sun as dusk approaches.
Appreciation
An unsettled mood leads to a short journey and a view of the setting sun.
Read the full appreciationCollapse
The poem does not tell us the cause of the speaker’s unease.
The final lines praise the sunset while naming approaching dusk. Readers differ on the force of “just” and the mood of the ending.
Observe evening light and discuss why the same sunset can evoke different feelings.
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.
Read about the poetCollapse
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.