It means: Regardless of right and wrong, success or failure (the achievements of heroes in ancient and modern times), it is all in vain until now, and they have all disappeared with the passage of time. The green mountains (jiangshan) of those days still exist, and the sun still rises and sets.
Original text:
Linjiangxian·The rolling water of the Yangtze River passes eastward
Yang Shen [Ming Dynasty]
The rolling water of the Yangtze River passes eastward, The waves wipe out all the heroes. Right and wrong, success and failure turn around in vain. The green hills are still there, and the sunset turns red several times.
The white-haired fisherman and woodcutter on the Nagisa River are used to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze. Happy reunion over a pot of wine. Many things in ancient and modern times are all talked about with laughter.
Translation:
As the Yangtze River rolls eastward, many heroes disappear like flying waves. Regardless of right and wrong, success or failure (the achievements of heroes of ancient and modern times), it is all in vain until now, and has disappeared with the passage of time. The green mountains (jiangshan) of those days still exist, and the sun still rises and sets.
The white-haired hermit by the river has long been used to seeing the changes of time. It was a rare meeting with an old friend, and I enjoyed a glass of wine. Many things throughout the ages have been reflected in (people's) talk and laughter.
Introduction to the work:
The first two sentences of the poem remind people of Du Fu's "The boundless falling trees are rustling, and the endless Yangtze River is rolling in" and Su Shi's "The great river goes eastward, and the waves are flowing." "He is a romantic figure through the ages." The river that never returns is used as a metaphor for the process of history, and the waves behind push the waves ahead are used to compare the heroic achievements of heroes. However, all this will eventually be taken away by the long river of history.
"Right and wrong, success and failure turn into nothing" is a summary of the historical phenomenon in the previous two sentences, from which we can also see the author's broad-minded and detached outlook on life. "The green mountains are still there, and the setting sun is red several times." The green mountains and the setting sun symbolize the eternity of nature and the universe. Although the rise and fall of the past dynasties are repeated, the green mountains and the sunset will not change, which is a sad feeling that life is fleeting. Born quietly.
In the words, "Yangtze River", "passing water", "spray", "hero", "green mountains", "sunset", "fishermen", "Jiangzhu", "autumn moon", "spring breeze" ", "turbid wine", the artistic conception is lofty and indifferent. To set off these images, there are also vivid words such as "rolling", "scouring out", "turning head empty", "still in", "several times", "used to see", "happy encounter", "laughing", etc. The quiet atmosphere of this poem adds a bit of movement.