–Mao Zedong – 1961
Above Mount Jiuyi, white clouds fleet and fly,
The imperial maidens ride the wind down from the sky.
A speckled bamboo branch holds a thousand tears, nigh;
Ten thousand rosy clouds form a hundred layers high.
Dongting’s waves surge like snow touching the sky,
On Long Island, men sing songs that shake the earth nearby.
I dream of boundless realms beneath the vast sky –
In Hibiscus Land, dawn’s glow shines far and nigh.
Note
Composed in reply to Hunan friends (chiefly Zhou Shizhao, Mao’s classmate; also Li Da and Letian Yu) who sent poems, gifts (spotted bamboo, calligraphy) from Mount Jiuyi. The poem blends Hunan mythology, landscape, nostalgia, and revolutionary optimism, with a hidden tribute to Mao’s late wife Yang Kaihui.
Seven-Character Octave (Qilu)
Classical Chinese poetic form: 8 lines, 7 characters each, strict tonal parallelism, end rhymes.
Friend:
- Primarily Zhou Shizhao (1897–1976): Mao’s close friend from Hunan First Normal School, later Vice Governor of Hunan.
- Also includes Li Da (philosopher) and Letian Yu (scholar).
Imperial Maidens
Ehuang and Nuying: Legendary wives of Emperor Shun, a sage ruler of ancient China. They mourned Shun’s death at Mount Jiuyi, their tears staining bamboo – creating spotted bamboo.
Yang Kaihui
Mao’s first wife (1901–1930), executed by the Nationalists. Mao later confirmed: “Ban zhu yi zhi qian di lei, hong xia wan duo bai zhong yi” commemorates Yang Kaihui (“Xia Gu,” meaning “Rosy Cloud Maiden”).
Mount Jiuyi
Sacred mountain in southern Hunan, burial place of Emperor Shun.
Cuiwei
Lush, green mountain slopes; poetic term for high, verdant hills.
Spotted Bamboo
Bamboo with natural purple spots, legendarily stained by Ehuang/Nuying’s tears. Symbol of grief, loyalty, and eternal love.
Dongting Lake
Large lake in northern Hunan, iconic in Chu poetry.
Long Island
Refers to Orange Island in the Xiang River, Changsha.
Hibiscus Land
Nickname for Hunan Province, from Tang poet Tan Yongzhi’s verse: “Autumn wind across ten thousand li of Hibiscus Land”.
Dawn’s Glow
Metaphor for hope, revolution, and bright future for China.
The imperial maidens ride the wind down from the sky
Alludes to Qu Yuan’s Jiu Ge – Xiang Jun: “The imperial maiden descends to the northern shore”. Blends myth with longing for Hunan.
A speckled bamboo branch holds a thousand tears
Direct mythic reference to Ehuang/Nuying’s grief; also personal sorrow for Yang Kaihui.
Ten thousand rosy clouds form a hundred layers high
“Rosy clouds” echo Yang Kaihui’s nickname “Xia Gu”; symbolizes transcendent beauty and spiritual immortality.
In Hibiscus Land, dawn’s glow shines far and nigh
Climactic optimism: Hunan (and all China) filled with revolutionary light and hope.
七律-答友人
九嶷山上白云飞，
帝子乘风下翠微。
斑竹一枝千滴泪，
红霞万朵百重衣。
洞庭波涌连天雪，
长岛人歌动地诗。
我欲因之梦寥廓，
芙蓉国里尽朝晖。
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