Qingming
At Qingming, rain falls in a misty drizzle;
A traveler on the road is weighed down with sorrow.
May I ask where an inn can be found?
A herding child points far away to Apricot Blossom Village.
Notes
Qingming is a spring solar term and a time associated with visiting ancestors’ graves. Fēnfēn suggests rain falling steadily. Duànhún is a figurative expression of deep sorrow. Jièwèn means “may I ask”; jiǔjiā is a place serving wine. Mùtóng is a herding child, and yáozhǐ means to point into the distance. The exact location of Apricot Blossom Village is debated.
Meaning
Rain falls at Qingming as a traveler makes their way along the road. Asked where an inn can be found, a herding child points toward a village in the distance.
Appreciation
The poem moves from rain and a traveler’s feelings to a small exchange on the road. Its last line answers the traveler’s question with a gesture rather than spoken words.
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The first two lines establish the season and a sorrowful mood. The poem does not explain why the traveler feels this way, leaving that part of the story open.
The traveler then asks for a place to rest. The herding child points toward a distant village, opening the scene beyond the rainy road.
Read together by listening for the rain and imagining the pointing gesture. You might ask a child what the village looks like from far away.
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.
Sources
Poem and reading reference: Shicile · Poet biography reference · poems-db
Translation and explanations by Poetry Buds; review ongoing.