— Li Bai
Rugged is the road, I hear,
Built by the pioneer.
In front steep mountains rise;
Beside my horse cloud flies.
Over plank way trees hang down;
Spring water girds the town.
Decided our rise and fall.
Do not bother at all!
Note
Li Bai (701–762 CE) was one of China’s most celebrated romantic poets of the Tang Dynasty, known for his vivid imagination, love of nature, and philosophical reflections on fate, freedom, and human endeavor. While famous for his exuberant wine poems and cosmic visions, he also wrote deeply thoughtful farewell verses that blend landscape, myth, and wisdom.
His poem “Sending a Friend into Shu” offers both a vivid depiction of the treacherous journey into Sichuan (ancient Shu) and a gentle philosophical counsel. The route – once trodden by the mythical kings Cancong and Yufu – is legendary for its danger:”They say the road to Cancong / is rugged and hard to travel.”
Li Bai paints the path with striking immediacy:”Mountains rise as if from your face; / Clouds swirl beside your horse’s head.” The cliffs are so steep and close they seem to loom over the traveler; mist gathers at eye level, heightening the sense of peril and wonder.
Yet the scenery is not only fearsome – it’s also beautiful: fragrant trees canopy the old plank roads of Qin, and spring rivers gently encircle Chengdu, the capital of Shu. This duality reflects Li Bai’s view of life’s journey: challenging, yes, but also full of quiet grace.
The closing couplet shifts to philosophy. Jun Ping was a famous Han-dynasty fortune-teller in Chengdu who read omens in tortoise shells. Li Bai advises his friend:”Your rise or fall is already destined – / No need to consult Jun Ping.” Rather than seeking external signs, accept fate with calm resolve – a Daoist-inspired message of inner peace amid uncertainty.
送友人入蜀
— 李白
见说蚕丛路，
崎岖不易行。
山从人面起，
云傍马头生。
芳树笼秦栈，
春流绕蜀城。
升沉应已定，
不必问君平。
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