芙蓉楼送辛渐
Fú Róng Lóu Sòng Xīn Jiàn
Seeing Off Xin Jian at Lotus Tower
王昌龄 (Wang Changling) · Tang Dynasty · 698–756
Original Text
寒雨连江夜入吴，
hán yǔ lián jiāng yè rù wú,
平明送客楚山孤。
píng míng sòng kè chǔ shān gū.
洛阳亲友如相问，
luò yáng qīn yǒu rú xiāng wèn,
一片冰心在玉壶。
yī piàn bīng xīn zài yù hú.
English Translation
Cold rain merges with the river, entering Wu by night; at dawn I see off my friend, the Chu mountains stand alone. If friends and family in Luoyang ask about me — my heart is pure as ice in a jade vessel.
Historical Background
Written around 742 AD when Wang Changling was stationed in the south, far from the capital. His friend Xin Jian was heading back to Luoyang, and Wang Changling composed this farewell at Lotus Tower (in present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu). Known as the "Sage of Seven-character Quatrains," Wang Changling was at this time serving in a minor post after being demoted from the capital.
Literary Analysis
The poem moves from the vast to the intimate: night rain over the river, the lonely mountain at dawn, then the personal message. The final line — "一片冰心在玉壶" (a piece of ice heart in a jade vessel) — has become a classic expression of moral purity. Despite his demotion and exile, Wang Changling's heart remains uncorrupted. The "ice in jade" metaphor conveys both transparency and preciousness, a declaration of integrity that transcends his circumstances.
Details
Form
Seven-character Quatrain (七言绝句)
Theme
Friendship & Farewell
About Wang Changling (王昌龄)
Wang Changling was known as the 'Sage of Seven-character Quatrains' for his mastery of the form. He excelled at frontier poetry and farewell poems, combining vivid imagery with deep emotion in remarkably concise verse.
2 poems by Wang Changling in our collection
Traditional Chinese
寒雨連江夜入吳，平明送客楚山孤。洛陽親友如相問，一片冰心在玉壺。