–Mao Zedong, Spring 1964
Apes and men once bowed and took their leave;
A few stones ground, our infancy weave.
Furnaces flared with copper and steel’s bright sheen –
When dawned that age? No guess is keen,
But a thousand winters and summers green.
Joy scarce smiles on this mortal scene;
On battlefields, curved bows lean,
Fields and plains dyed red, blood’s gushing stream.
A volume read, my hair turns snow-white,
Scattered dots and lines, old tales in sight.
The Three Sovereigns, Five Emperors’ sacred mythic light
Deceived endless travelers through night.
Who are true heroes, bold and bright?
After Zhi and Zhuang’s fame took flight,
King Chen rose up, golden axe to smite.
My song not done – east breaks the light!
Note
Mao’s late masterpiece summarizing his lifelong study of Chinese history. It spans from human evolution to class struggle, challenging official historiography and elevating popular uprisings as true historical drivers.
He Xin Lang (Congratulations to the Groom):
Classic ci (song lyric) form; fixed tonal pattern, flexible line length.
Historical Lyric:
Chinese poetic tradition of reflecting on history.
Materialist View of History:
Mao’s Marxist framework – labor, tools, class conflict drive progress.
Three Sovereigns & Five Emperors:
Legendary ancient rulers. Portrayed as mythic, authoritarian deities used to legitimize dynastic rule.
Dao Zhi:
Spring–Autumn rebel; slandered as “robber” but hailed as people’s hero.
Zhuang Jue:
Warring States peasant leader who divided Chu.
King Chen Sheng:
Chen Sheng, Qin peasant rebel; first to overthrow imperial rule, “rose up, golden axe in hand”.
Yellow Axe:
Ceremonial golden axe; symbol of heavenly mandate to overthrow tyranny.
Joy scarce smiles on this mortal scene:
Adapts Du Mu’s “On Earth, joy’s rare to find”.
Curved bows:
Curved bow like the moon – classic battle imagery.
Hair turns snow-white:
Hair white as snow – metaphor for lifelong study and aging.
Apes and men apart:
Humorous, vivid depiction of human evolution from apes.
Stones ground, our infancy weave:
Stone Age – human “infancy,” slow progress.
Furnaces flared with copper and steel’s bright sheen:
Bronze/Iron Ages – metallurgy, rapid civilization.
A thousand winters and summers:
Thousands of years – concise for ancient history.
Fields and plains dyed red:
Bloodshed of class war and conquest.
The Three Sovereigns, Five Emperors‘ sacred mythic light;Deceived endless travelers through night.
Critique – official history glorifies rulers, deceives masses.
After Zhi and Zhuang’s fame took flight, King Chen rose up, golden axe to smite.
Celebrates peasant rebels as true heroes.
My song not done – east breaks the light
Poem unfinished; dawn breaks – metaphor for new revolutionary era.
Historical & Ideological Meaning
- Rejects Official Historiography: Condemns glorification of emperors.
- Upholds People’s History: Peasant uprisings drive progress.
- Evolution & Materialism: History as tool-making, class struggle, inevitable progress.
- Optimism: “East breaks the light” – revolutionary dawn.
《贺新郎-读史》
人猿相揖别。
只几个石头磨过，小儿时节。
铜铁炉中翻火焰，为问何时猜得，不过几千寒热。
人世难逢开口笑，上疆场彼此弯弓月。
流遍了，郊原血。
一篇读罢头飞雪，但记得斑斑点点，几行陈迹。
五帝三皇神圣事，骗了无涯过客。
有多少风流人物？
盗跖庄蹻流誉后，更陈王奋起挥黄钺。
歌未竟，东方白。
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