– Mao Zedong, October 1929
Man ages all too easily, Heaven never grows old.
Year by year comes the Double Ninth;
Again the Double Ninth arrives,
Yellow chrysanthemums on the battlefield smell especially sweet.
Year after year the autumn wind blows fierce.
Unlike the glow of spring,
Yet far surpassing the glow of spring –
A vast sky over rivers stretches under ten thousand li of frost.
Note
Mao wrote this poem in October 1929 while staying in Shanghang, Fujian, on the revolutionary base area, during the Double Ninth Festival, expressing his broad mind and revolutionary optimism amid warfare.
Ci Poetry (Cipai)
Cai Sang Zi (Song of Picking Mulberries) is a classic lyrical tune in classical Chinese poetry, concise in form and suitable for expressing deep feelings and philosophical reflections.
Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang)
A traditional Chinese festival on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. Customs include climbing mountains, enjoying chrysanthemums, drinking chrysanthemum wine, and expressing longing for relatives. It symbolizes longevity and fortitude.
Autumn imagery in Chinese poetry
Traditionally, autumn often evokes sadness and decline, but this poem breaks the stereotype by praising autumn’s vigor and grandeur, showing revolutionary optimism.
Man ages easily, Heaven never grows old
Derived and adapted from Li He’s famous line “If Heaven had feelings, Heaven too would grow old”. Mao uses it to contrast the shortness of human life with the eternity of nature, expressing lofty ideals beyond personal life span.
Yellow chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are the symbolic flower of the Double Ninth Festival, representing integrity, perseverance, and resistance to the cold. Here they also symbolize the revolutionary spirit growing strong on the battlefield.
Ten thousand li of frost
A poetic image describing the vast, clear, and magnificent autumn scene of rivers and sky, signifying a broad vision and firm revolutionary faith.
采桑子·重阳
毛泽东 · 一九二九年十月
人生易老天难老，
岁岁重阳。今又重阳，
战地黄花分外香。
一年一度秋风劲，
不似春光。胜似春光，
寥廓江天万里霜。
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