— Wang Wei
No dust is raised on the road wet with morning rain;
The willows by the hotel look so fresh and green.
I invite you to drink a cup of wine again;
West of the Sunny Pass no more friends will be seen.
Note
Wang Wei (699–761 CE) was one of the greatest poets of China’s High Tang Dynasty, celebrated for his serene landscape poetry, deep Chan (Zen) Buddhist sensibility, and mastery of the short lyrical form. Often called the “Poet Buddha,” he infused everyday moments with quiet emotion and philosophical depth.
His poem “Farewell to Yuan Er on His Mission to Anxi” is among the most famous farewell poems in Chinese literature. Set in Weicheng (near modern Xi’an), it opens with a fresh spring morning: light rain has settled the dust, and willow trees by the inn glow bright green – a traditional symbol of parting, as “willow” sounds like “to stay” in Chinese.
The poet then urges his friend: “I beg you – drink one more cup of wine. / Beyond Yang Pass to the west, there’ll be no old friends.”
Yang Pass marked the western frontier of Han and Tang China; beyond it lay the harsh, alien lands of the Western Regions (Anxi). The final line carries profound emotional weight – not just geographic distance, but the loss of shared culture, companionship, and safety. The simple offer of another toast becomes a poignant gesture of care, solidarity, and sorrow.
This poem was so beloved that it was later set to music as the song “Three Variations on Yang Pass”, sung for centuries to bid travelers farewell.
送元二使安西
— 王维
渭城朝雨浥轻尘，
客舍青青柳色新。
劝君更尽一杯酒，
西出阳关无故人。
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