Ning Bi Shi is a seven-character quatrain written by the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei. This poem was written in 756 AD, when Wang Wei was placed under house arrest by An Lushan rebels in Luoyang Temple. One day, An Lushan gave a banquet in Ningbichi, threatening the musicians in Liyuan to play music, and the musicians burst into tears.
Lei Haiqing, a famous musician, refused to play after breaking a musical instrument, and was dismembered by rebels in the stable. Pei Di, a friend, came to visit Wang Wei and told him about it. After listening to this, Wang Wei was angry and sad, and casually wrote this poem. Poetry expresses the pain and grief of national subjugation by describing the bleak scene of An Shi Rebellion and the fall of the capital.
1, original text
Ningbishi
Wang Wei in Tang Dynasty
Thousands of families show compassion for others. When will the officials return to the sky?
Autumn leaves of Sophora japonica fall into the palace, and orchestral strings are played in the pool.
2. Translation
Thousands of ordinary people are sad because of the war disaster caused by the An Shi Rebellion. When will the civil and military officials worship the Tang Emperor again? In autumn, Sophora leaves fall in the empty palace, and various musical instruments are being played in Ningbi Palace.
Extended data:
Writing background
In the 15th year of Tianbao in Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty (756), the Anshi Rebellion captured Chang 'an, and Xuanzong fled with Yang Guifei, Yang and some courtiers. At that time, Wang was captured by the Anshi Rebellion before he could follow Xuanzong to worship.
In order not to serve the rebels, Wang Wei contracted dysentery by taking medicine himself, and at the same time played the fool in an attempt to escape the entanglement of the rebels. However, An Lushan had long heard of Wang Wei's name and liked him very much, so he specially sent someone to send him to Luoyang, the eastern capital, and put him under house arrest in a temple, forcing him to accept fake posts.
However, Wang Wei still admitted that he was ill and resolutely refused to participate in any activities. An Lushan captured the two capitals, became Emperor Dayan again, and lived a life of crowing and feasting. On one occasion, An Lushan hosted a banquet for his disciples in Ningbi Palace. The scene was very lively, but all the musicians he used were disciples of the Royal Pear Garden in the Tang Dynasty.
Those who were forced to become fake officials were very sad to see the arrogance of An Lushan and his ministers. Wang Wei was very depressed. He said that he was ill and didn't attend the party.
After the meeting, his good friend Peidi came to see him and told him that An Lushan was drinking and having fun on the Ningbi Pool in Ningbi Palace. Hearing this, Wang Wei also shed tears, so he wrote this poem "Ningbi Poetry".
Later, when Chang 'an and Luoyang were recovered in the Tang Dynasty, anyone who had been a fake official in the Anshi Rebellion was convicted at different levels, including Wang Wei. At this time, Wang Wei gave this poem to Tang Suzong. Su Zong read it, praised Wang Wei for his integrity, and remembered the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
At this time, Wang Wei's younger brother, Wang Jin, has been an official assistant minister of punishments. Wang Jin asked Su Zong to cut off his official position to redeem his brother's sin, so Tang Suzong showed mercy outside the law, and instead of convicting Wang Wei, he was demoted to Prince Zhongyun.
Although Wang Wei expressed his loyalty because of a poem "Ning Bi Shi" and avoided a catastrophe, Wang Wei's political enthusiasm further declined after the political turmoil of An Shi Rebellion.
Although nominally still an official of the DPRK, he has successively served as the illegitimate son of the Prince, a scholar of China, a minister and a minister, and his official position has been promoted step by step, but he is getting farther and farther away from politics.