– by Tao Yuanming (Jin Dynasty)
Long have I been away from wandering the mountains and streams;
Now I roam freely, finding joy in the boundless woods and fields.
Gathering my children and nephews, I take them along,
Pushing aside the brambles to walk through the ruined village.
Wandering among the burial mounds,
I linger affectionately by the sites where people once lived.
The old wells and hearths still leave their traces;
The mulberry and bamboo trees remain as rotting stumps.
I ask the woodcutter gathering firewood,
“Where have all these people gone?”
The woodcutter replies to me,
“They have perished and passed away; none are left.”
“One generation sees the rise and fall of courts and markets” –
This saying is truly not false.
Human life is but an illusion and transformation;
In the end, all must return to the great void and nothingness.
Note
Exploring the Ruined Village
In this poem, Tao takes his younger relatives on an excursion into the wilderness to explore the ruins of an abandoned village. This act of wandering through the remnants of past human habitation is a powerful literary device. It contrasts sharply with the vibrant, living nature in his other pastoral poems, shifting the tone to one of historical reflection and existential meditation.
The Woodcutter as a Voice of Truth
In classical Chinese poetry and literature, the woodcutter (along with the fisherman) often serves as a symbolic figure representing uncorrupted, unpretentious wisdom. For example, in Chapter 1 of Journey to the West, when Sun Wukong travels in search of an immortal master, he hears the woodcutter singing a Taoist‑themed ballad in the mountains, mistaking him for a deity. The woodcutter gives Wukong clear directions to the cave, setting the monkey on his path to learn magic.
Living outside the political and social hierarchies, the woodcutter possesses a grounded, unvarnished understanding of life and death. When Tao asks him about the former inhabitants, the woodcutter’s blunt reply (“They have perished… none are left”) strips away any romantic illusions about human permanence.
The Transience of Courts and Markets
This line captures a profound historical and social observation. “Courts and markets” symbolize the centers of political power, social status, and worldly pursuits. The phrase “one generation (refers to 30 years) sees the rise and fall” highlights the extreme volatility of human society, especially during the chaotic Wei-Jin period when dynasties frequently collapsed and warlords constantly vied for power. While empires and elites rise and fall, nature remains indifferent.
The phrase “one generation sees the rise and fall” perfectly mirrors the essence of the famous Chinese idiom “Thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west side of the river” (三十年河东，三十年河西). This idiom describes the unpredictable, cyclical nature of fortune and power, illustrating that wealth, status, and political dominance are never permanent. It highlights the extreme volatility of human society, especially during the chaotic Wei-Jin period when dynasties frequently collapsed and warlords constantly vied for power. While empires and elites rise and fall in this endless cycle, nature remains indifferent.
Life as Illusion and Transformation
The concluding lines reveal Tao’s deep philosophical alignment with both Daoism and Buddhism. “Illusion and transformation” reflects the Buddhist concept of Maya (the illusory nature of the material world) and the Daoist belief in the endless, natural cycle of transformation. Tao concludes that all human striving, status, and existence are ultimately fleeting, and everything must eventually return to “the great void and nothingness”. Rather than despairing at this, Tao accepts it with a profound, tranquil equanimity.
归园田居·其四
陶渊明〔魏晋〕
久去山泽游，浪莽林野娱。
试携子侄辈，披榛步荒墟。
徘徊丘垄间，依依昔人居。
井灶有遗处，桑竹残朽株。
借问采薪者，此人皆焉如？
薪者向我言，死没无复余。
一世异朝市，此语真不虚。
人生似幻化，终当归空无。
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