The Sui Palace
The ruler travels south on a whim, without due caution;
Who within the deep palace reads the written remonstrances?
In spring the whole country cuts imperial brocade:
Half becomes saddlecloths, half becomes sails.
Notes
The Sui palace evokes Emperor Yang’s southern journeys. The deep palace stands for the court; written remonstrances are warnings offered to the ruler. Saddlecloths hang beside a horse’s saddle. This four-line poem is distinct from Li Shangyin’s eight-line poem with the same title.
Meaning
The poem uses a Sui ruler’s southern journey to contrast ignored warnings with lavish spending on saddlecloths and sails.
Appreciation
The first two lines pair the southern journey with a question about warnings left unread.
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Repeated “half” in the closing lines focuses attention on how the brocade is used.
The national scale is made tangible in saddlecloths and sails.
Another poem by the same author has the same title but eight lines; the works should be distinguished.
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.