Bamboo and Rock
It grips the green mountain and will not let go;
Its roots are planted in the broken rock.
Through countless trials it remains strong;
Let winds blow from east, west, south or north.
Notes
Yǎodìng means to grip firmly, giving the bamboo a vivid action. Lìgēn means to take root; pòyán is cracked rock. “Countless trials” describes repeated pressure, while jiānjìng means firm and strong.
Meaning
Bamboo holds fast to a mountain, rooted in broken rock. It remains strong through hardship, whatever direction the wind may come from.
Appreciation
The poem describes bamboo growing in rock and uses its stance as an image of resilience.
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The verb “grip” makes the bamboo seem almost human. The next line shows its roots holding in the cracks of the rock.
The closing lines bring pressure and winds from every direction. The bamboo is described as remaining firm despite those forces.
Read with a child by moving arms like bamboo in the wind and finding the words that make the plant feel alive.
About the poet
Zheng Xie (1693–1765), better known as Zheng Banqiao, was a Qing-dynasty poet, painter and calligrapher from Xinghua, Jiangsu. He is known for paintings of bamboo, orchids and rocks.
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Life: Zheng Xie served as a county official in Shandong and became known for poetry, calligraphy and painting.
Works: Bamboo and rocks recur in his paintings and poems; Bamboo and Rock is one of his best-known inscriptions.
Sources
Poem and reading reference: Shicile · Poet biography reference · poems-db
Translation and explanations by Poetry Buds; review ongoing.