— by Tao Yuanming (Jin Dynasty)
I plant beans beneath the southern hill,
But weeds grow thick and bean sprouts are sparse.
I rise at dawn to clear the tangled waste,
And carry my hoe home under the moon.
The path is narrow, grasses and trees overgrow;
The evening dew wets my clothes.
I do not mind the wetting of my clothes –
Just so long as my wish is not betrayed.
Note
On the surface, it describes a day’s farm work: planting beans, weeding at dawn, returning at moonrise, and getting clothes wet with dew. But the last line reveals the true theme: the external hardships (wet clothes, sparse beans) do not matter, as long as his inner wish – to live freely in accord with nature – remains unbroken. The “wish” is the same as his earlier “keeping a simple heart” (守拙) and “returning to nature”.
Tao Yuanming (c. 365–427)
As mentioned in earlier poems, Tao is China’s foremost poet-recluse. He served briefly as magistrate of Pengze County in 405 CE but resigned after only 80 days, famously refusing to “crook his back for five bushels of rice” (i.e., a petty official salary) to please a visiting inspector. This act became legendary as a symbol of personal integrity. After that, he returned to farming and wrote a series of five poems under the title Return to the Garden and Fields; this is the third of them.
The ideal of reclusion
In traditional Chinese culture, withdrawing from official service to live a simple rural life was considered a noble choice, especially during corrupt or turbulent times. Tao’s decision resonated with generations of literati who valued inner freedom over worldly success.
Farming as a moral act
Unlike many poets who merely romanticized rural life, Tao actually worked the land. His poems often describe real physical labour (clearing weeds, carrying a hoe), which reflects his commitment to self-sufficiency and sincerity.
Southern Hill
This refers to Mount Lu (in present-day Jiangxi), where Tao lived. In Chinese poetry, the southern hill often symbolises a retreat from society and a return to nature.
Five Bushels of Rice
This was the standard salary for a minor official. Tao’s refusal to bow for such a meagre pay became a byword for valuing dignity over material gain. His resignation in 405 CE is the backdrop for this entire series of poems.
归园田居·其三
–陶渊明〔魏晋〕
种豆南山下，草盛豆苗稀。
晨兴理荒秽，带月荷锄归。
道狭草木长，夕露沾我衣。
衣沾不足惜，但使愿无违。
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