It truly reproduces the darkness of society at that time, sharply satirizes and ruthlessly criticizes the ruling class, and at the same time expresses deep sympathy for the hardships of people's lives and deep concern for the country.
Yuan Jiu was Yuan Zhen and Li Shi was Li Shen. They were both good friends of Bai Juyi and famous poets at that time. The general meaning of this poem is: I have an infinitely charming "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" and ten "Qin Zhongyin" that criticize the current ills. Yuan Zhen often secretly learned the rhythm of my poems, and Li Shen also admired my poems very much. Although I am not destined to be rich or famous while alive, my articles will be well-known after my death. Don’t blame me for boasting. The fifteen volumes of newly compiled poems have been completed.
After compiling the collection of poems and completing a major event, Bai Juyi was inevitably a little proud, so he presented poems to Yuan Zhen and Li Shen to show off. Bai Juyi's poems can be divided into two categories according to his creative motives. The first type embodies artistic accomplishment and expresses his appreciation and experience of aesthetics. This type of poem is represented by "Song of Everlasting Sorrow", which is "a long and charming poem". The other type embodies his concern for the country and the people, with the purpose of criticizing the current ills. This type of poem is represented by "Qin Zhong Yin", which is "ten Qin Yin almost authentic".
"Qin Zhong Yin" is a group of poems, consisting of ten poems. It is a set of allegorical poems written by Bai Juyi in Chang'an around the fifth year of Yuanhe (810). "Qinzhong" is a place name, referring to the Guanzhong Plain area in Shaanxi Province today. Chang'an is located in Qinzhong. "Yin" refers to poetry. Bai Juyi wrote ten poems in Chang'an, hence the name "Qin Zhong Yin". "Qin Zhongyin" records the arrogant and extravagant life of corrupt officials at that time, as well as the suffering life of the people in Ming Dynasty. "Qin Zhongyin" truly reproduces the darkness of society at that time, sharply satirizes and ruthlessly criticizes the ruling class, and at the same time expresses deep sympathy for the hardships of the people's lives and deep concern for the country. "Poems are written for the sake of things." Bai Juyi believed that the function of poetry was to criticize current ills and thus help the ruling class govern the country well. "Qin Zhongyin" just meets this standard, so Bai Juyi wrote in the poem that "ten Qin Yin is almost correct".