By describing the desolate scene of Chang'an during the An-Shi Rebellion, the poem expresses the poet's concern for his country and home, and reflects his desire for peace and happiness. The whole poem expresses the poet's concern for the country, sadness for the time, sadness for himself, and longing for his relatives.
Spring Hope
Tang Dynasty: Du Fu
The country is broken by mountains and rivers, and the city is full of spring vegetation.
I am moved to tears by the flowers, and the birds are frightened by the hatred.
The war rages on for three months, and a letter from home is worth ten thousand gold.
The white-headed scratches are shorter, and the lust is overwhelming.
Translation
Chang'an fell, the country was broken, and only the mountains and rivers remained; spring came, and the sparsely populated Chang'an city was lush with vegetation.
When I feel sentimental about state affairs, I can’t help but burst into tears, and the chirping of birds frightens my heart, which only adds to the sorrow and hatred of separation.
The continuous war has lasted for more than half a year. Letters from home are rare, and one letter is worth tens of thousands of taels of gold.
Wrapped in melancholy, I scratched my head and thought. The more I scratched my head, the shorter my white hair became. It was almost impossible to insert a hairpin.
Creative background
In November of the fourteenth year of Tianbao (755), An Lushan rebelled against the Tang Dynasty. In June of the following year, the rebels captured Tongguan, and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty fled to Sichuan in a hurry. In July, Prince Li Heng was located in Lingwu (now part of Ningxia), known as Suzong in the world, and changed to Yuan Dynasty. After hearing the news, Du Fu settled his family in Duzhou and defected to Suzong's court alone. Unfortunately, he was captured by the rebels on the way and sent to Chang'an. He was not imprisoned because of his humble official position. In the spring of the second year of Zhide, Du Fu, who was in the occupied area, witnessed the desolate and desolate scene of Chang'an City. He had mixed feelings and wrote this masterpiece that has been passed down through the ages.
"Spring View" contains elements such as blending emotions into scenery, borrowing scenery to express emotions, holding objects to express aspirations, holding objects to imply meanings, and embodying feelings into things. The key is to turn feelings and thoughts into scenery, empathize with scenery, and blend scenes. This is what the modern West calls "empathy theory." Du Fu's poem: "I feel the flowers splashing with tears when I feel the time, and I hate the other birds and scare my heart" ("Spring View"), which is an example of empathizing with the scenery.