— Bai Juyi
Behold the White Cloud Fountain on the Tianping Mountain!
White clouds enjoy pleasure while water enjoys leisure.
Why should the torrent dash down from the mountain high
And overflow the human world with waves far and nigh?
Note
Bai Juyi (772–846 CE) was one of the most influential and accessible poets of the Tang Dynasty, celebrated for his clear, conversational style and deep concern for social justice, as well as his later embrace of Buddhist-inspired tranquility and reclusion. A leading figure of the “New Yuefu Movement,” he believed poetry should be understandable even to common readers.
His poem “White Cloud Spring” (Bai Yun Quan) reflects his mature philosophical outlook – favoring peace over ambition and simplicity over worldly entanglement. Written during his retirement years, the poem describes the Baiyun Spring on Tianping Mountain, where clouds drift freely and water flows calmly, embodying the Daoist ideal of wu wei(effortless action).
The poet gently questions why the spring should rush down the mountain: “Why must it surge downward into the world below – / only to add more waves to an already troubled human realm?” Here, the “waves” symbolize chaos, competition, and the turmoil of public life. By urging the spring to stay serene in its high, quiet place, Bai Juyi expresses his own choice to withdraw from political strife and seek inner stillness.
The poem is a quiet manifesto of spiritual retreat – a celebration of natural ease and a subtle critique of restless ambition.
白云泉
— 白居易
天平山上白云泉，
云自无心水自闲。
何必奔冲山下去，
更添波浪向人间！
Leave a Reply