— by Tao Yuanming (Jin Dynasty)
Poem 1
I once wished to live in the South Village,
Not because I had divined it to be an auspicious site.
I had heard it was home to many pure-hearted souls,
And I rejoiced at the thought of sharing mornings and evenings with them.
Harboring this wish for many a year,
Today, I finally undertake this move.
Why must a humble cottage be spacious?
It need only be enough to shelter my bed and mat.
Neighbors and friends come and go from time to time;
We speak frankly and openly about the days gone by.
We read and admire wonderful writings together,
And discuss any puzzling passages to find clarity.
Poem 2
Spring and autumn bring many beautiful days;
I climb high and compose new verses.
Passing by each other’s gates, we call out to greet one another;
When there is wine, we pour and share it freely.
When farm work calls, we each return to our own fields;
In moments of leisure, we naturally miss each other.
When longing strikes, I simply throw on my coat and visit;
We talk and laugh, never tiring of each other’s company.
Is there any joy in this world greater than this?
Do not rashly abandon this way of life.
Clothing and food must be planned for,
But honest, hard farming will never betray me.
Note
Historical Background: The Fire and the Move
This pair of poems was written in 410 CE, when Tao Yuanming was 46 years old. In June 408, his old residence in Shangjing caught fire, leaving him temporarily homeless and forcing him to live on a boat. Two years later, he moved to a cottage in the South Village, located in the southern suburbs of Xunyang (present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province). These poems were composed shortly after this relocation, capturing his relief and joy at finding a new home.
Choosing Neighbors Over Real Estate
In ancient China, when choosing a place to live, people often consulted fortune-tellers or geomancers to find an “auspicious site” that would bring wealth, status, or good fortune to the family. Tao explicitly rejects this superstitious and materialistic practice. Instead, he chooses his home purely based on the quality of the people living there. This reflects his profound Daoist-inspired values, prioritizing spiritual connection and moral purity over material wealth.
Pure-Hearted Souls
The “pure-hearted souls” Tao refers to are his fellow villagers, who are mostly common farmers and fellow recluses. In a society obsessed with political power and aristocratic lineage, Tao deliberately seeks out people who are uncorrupted by worldly ambitions. They share a simple, authentic way of life, making them ideal companions for a poet who has fled the corrupt political arena.
Intellectual Intimacy and Friendship
This line beautifully captures the essence of Tao’s friendships. Despite being a farmer, Tao and his neighbors engage in high-level intellectual exchanges. Reading “wonderful writings” and analyzing “puzzling passages” together shows that their bond is not just based on rural labor, but also on a shared love for literature and philosophy. This elevates their rustic life to a realm of profound spiritual and intellectual fulfillment.
Yan Yanzhi, Yin Jingren and Pang Tongzhi were three important acquaintances of Tao Yuanming.
- Yan Yanzhi (颜延之, 颜延年) was Tao’s close friend despite the age gap. He often visited and drank with Tao, once giving him a large sum of money for wine. After Tao’s death, Yan wrote the authoritative Eulogy for Recluse Tao 《陶征士诔并序》.
- Yin Jingren (殷景仁) was Tao’s short‑term neighbour in Xunyang. They enjoyed conversations, yet parted ways when Yin chose an official career while Tao lived in seclusion. Tao composed a farewell poem for him.
- Pang Tongzhi (庞通之, 庞遵), a local friend (native of Xunyang), acted as an intermediary. He arranged a meeting between Tao and the governor Wang Hong (王弘). Tao also confided his hardships in a poem sent to Pang.
The Ideal of Rustic Harmony
The second poem paints a utopian picture of rural community life. The casual greetings across gates, the spontaneous sharing of wine, and the effortless transition between hard farm labor and joyful leisure reflect a deep sense of harmony. This lifestyle is the ultimate realization of Tao’s philosophy: living in sync with nature, relying on one’s own honest labor (“honest, hard farming will never betray me”), and finding genuine happiness in simple, unpretentious human connections.
移居二首
陶渊明〔魏晋〕
其一
昔欲居南村，非为卜其宅。
闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕。
怀此颇有年，今日从兹役。
敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席。
邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔。
奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析。
其二
春秋多佳日，登高赋新诗。
过门更相呼，有酒斟酌之。
农务各自归，闲暇辄相思。
相思则披衣，言笑无厌时。
此理将不胜？无为忽去兹。
衣食当须纪，力耕不吾欺。
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