清明
qīng míng
Qingming Festival
杜牧 (Du Mu) · Tang Dynasty · 803–852
Original Text
清明时节雨纷纷，
qīng míng shí jié yǔ fēn fēn,
路上行人欲断魂。
lù shàng xíng rén yù duàn hún.
借问酒家何处有，
jiè wèn jiǔ jiā hé chù yǒu,
牧童遥指杏花村。
mù tóng yáo zhǐ xìng huā cūn.
English Translation
During the Qingming Festival, rain falls thick and fast; travelers on the road are weary to their souls. "Where can I find a tavern?" I ask — a shepherd boy points to Apricot Blossom Village in the distance.
Historical Background
The Qingming Festival (Clear Brightness Festival, also called Tomb-Sweeping Day) occurs in early April, when families visit ancestral graves. Rain during Qingming is considered auspicious but makes the already somber occasion more melancholy. This poem has become so intertwined with the festival that it is virtually impossible to mention Qingming without someone quoting it.
Literary Analysis
The poem tells a miniature story. The rain and emotional weight of the festival are established in the first two lines. Then a simple question-and-answer exchange between traveler and shepherd boy provides the turn. The final image — a distant village named after apricot blossoms — offers both literal shelter (a tavern to rest in) and symbolic hope (beauty beyond the rain). The poem's narrative structure makes it feel like a scene from a film.
Details
Form
Seven-character Quatrain (七言绝句)
Theme
Seasons & Time
About Du Mu (杜牧)
Du Mu was a late Tang Dynasty poet known for his elegant, often melancholic verse. He is particularly famous for his historical reflections and lyrical quatrains. Together with Li Shangyin, he is referred to as the "Little Li and Du" (小李杜), a nod to the earlier "Great Li and Du" (Li Bai and Du Fu).
2 poems by Du Mu in our collection
Traditional Chinese
清明時節雨紛紛，路上行人欲斷魂。借問酒家何處有，牧童遙指杏花村。