Riding the Rapids on Spring River 行香子 . 过七里濑

Riding the Rapids on Spring River

-to the tune of Xingxiangzi

Chinese original: Su Shi

English version: Julia Min (Dec.2024)

One little canoe with two little paddles,

Stirs the blue mirror of the Spring River.

The fish play flipping games on algae near.

The wild swans, aroused, rise in the air,

The egrets dot the misty dales here and there.

Then we bumped down the thrilling rapids—

through the frosty mist, over the white water,

into a gleaming melody on the moon river.

A stream of screen art at each winding turn.

A skyline of cascade mountains, far and near.

Lord Yan Lin secluded himself for a reason.

Such a dream — between him and the ruler!

There’s nothing like the mountain ranges—

When clear, the eye can reach lands of wonder;

If cloudy, the crests are a stage of sky drama;

At daybreak, it’s a blue haven, serene and fair.

Notes:

1.     Three-Mile Rapids: Located thirty li south of Tonglu County in present-day Zhejiang Province. The Qiantang River, flanked by steep mountains on both sides, flows swiftly through this narrow gorge over sand and rocks for a continuous seven li (about 3 miles)— hence the name. 

2.     Lord Yan Lin: Social name Ziling. He assisted Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty) in ascending the throne. As he harboured no interest in political ambitions, he changed his name and identity to embrace a life of seclusion here at the Spring River (Fuchun River). The emperor valued Ziling's talents and personality and wanted him at his court. Artists were dispatched to draw Yan Ziling's portrait, which was then posted far and wide in search of him. Subsequently, reports from the state of Qi indicated that a man was fishing in the marshes while clad in a sheepskin robe. Liu Xiu suspected this was Yan Ziling and promptly dispatched envoys to summon him with carriages and gifts. Despite these efforts, Yan Ziling declined all offers, determined to remain secluded on this beautiful Spring River.

Appreciation:

Written in the second month of spring, in the sixth year of the Xining era (1073 CE) under Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty. Due to political disagreements with the Emperor and with Wang Anshi, who advocated for the New Policies, Su Shi was sent outside the capital to serve as Assistant Prefect of Hangzhou. While on an inspection tour to Fuyang, he took a boat journey along the river and composed this poem as he passed through the Three-Mile Rapids.

This little poem reads like a movie streaming before your mind's eye – from a peaceful water surface on higher terrain down through a rapid flow of white waters on the sand river to a serene world of seclusion. It's like a life cycle, transforming yin and yang from peace to chaos, and back again.

After the water subject, the poem shifts to mountains in the second stanza. Mountains and rivers are another yin-yang combination of static and mobile, often appearing in Chinese paintings. Referring to the well-known story of Yan Ziling highlights Su Shi's theme—the classical debate over whether to live for glory or for peace.

The Song artists embraced blue and green colours in landscape painting. There's a film just released in October in the name of Just Green and Blue (《只此青绿》). I have loved it ever since the story first appeared as a stage dance. Song's art looks simple, even pretty common at first glance, but is enduring because it embodies a complexity of ideas and philosophies beyond.

To enrich your understanding, you may find more pleasure in his other poem about a rapids' ride – "The 100-Step River Rapids' Ride" (《百步洪》), which can be found on this website.

行香子 . 过七里濑

原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋）

一叶舟轻，双桨鸿惊。

水天青，影湛波平。

鱼翻藻鉴，鹭点烟汀。

过沙溪急，霜溪冷，月溪明。 

重重似画，曲曲如屏。

算当年，虚老严陵。

君臣一梦，今古空名。

但远山长，云山乱，晓山青。

Reference:

1. https://wgly-hangzhou-gov-cn 

2. picture from Google