Wanglushan Waterfall
Li Bai
Purple smoke rises from the incense burner in the sunshine,
Looking at the waterfall hanging in front of the river in the distance.
The flying current flows down three thousand feet,
It is suspected that the Milky Way has fallen into the sky.
[Note]
1. Lushan Mountain: Located in the south of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, it is a famous scenic spot in my country.
2. Incense Burner: Xianglu Peak is located in the northwest of Mount Lushan. It is named because it looks like an incense burner and the mountain is often shrouded in clouds and smoke.
3． Kakemaekawa: Hanging on the water in front.
4. Jiutian: According to ancient legend, there are nine levels of heaven, and Jiutian is the highest level of heaven.
[Brief Analysis]
This is a landscape poem written by the poet Li Bai when he was living in seclusion in Lushan Mountain when he was about fifty years old. This poem vividly depicts the majestic scenery of Lushan Waterfall and reflects the poet's infinite love for the great rivers and mountains of the motherland.
The first sentence "The sun shines on the incense burner and produces purple smoke." "Xianglu" refers to Xianglu Peak in Lushan Mountain. This peak is located in the northwest of Lushan Mountain. It is pointed and round in shape, like an incense burner. As the waterfall cascades and the water vapor evaporates upwards, under the bright sun, it seems as if there is an incense burner standing high in the sky and slowly rising clouds of purple smoke. The word "生" vividly depicts the scene of rising smoke and clouds. This sentence sets a majestic background for the waterfall, and also adds to the atmosphere for the direct description of the waterfall below.
The second sentence "Looking at the waterfall Kageqianchuan from a distance". The four words "looking at the waterfall from a distance" echo the title "Wanglu Mountain Waterfall". "Kakezengawa" means that the waterfall is like a huge white chain hanging straight from the cliff to the river in front. The word "hang" turns movement into stillness, and depicts the waterfall in the distance with a delicate texture.
The first two sentences of the poem are written from a broad perspective, summarizing the panoramic view: the purple smoke is lingering on the top of the mountain, the mountains are hanging white, and the rapids are rushing below the mountain, forming a gorgeous and magnificent picture.
The third sentence "Floating down three thousand feet" describes the waterfall in detail from close range. "Flying flow" expresses the waterfall shooting out of the sky, gushing and falling. "Straight down" not only expresses the steepness of the rock wall, but also expresses the rapidity of the water flow. "Three thousand feet" is an exaggeration to describe the height of the mountain.
Writing this way, the poet felt that the majestic momentum of the waterfall had not been fully expressed, so he then wrote another sentence: "It is suspected that the Milky Way has fallen into the sky." It is said that this "flowing down" waterfall makes people suspect that the Milky Way is pouring down from the sky. The word "suspicious" is used in an ethereal and lively way, as if it is true or illusory, attracting people's imagination and adding to the magical color of the waterfall.
This poem uses metaphor, exaggeration and imagination extremely successfully, with a unique conception and vivid, concise and bright language. Su Dongpo admired this poem very much and said, "The emperor sent the emperor to the Milky Way, and in ancient times there were only poems to banish immortals." The "exiled immortal" is Li Bai. "Wanglu Mountain Waterfall" is indeed an example of describing scenery and expressing emotions through objects.
About the author: Li Bai (701-762), also known as Taibai, was a great romantic poet in the Tang Dynasty. He wrote a large number of poems that eulogized the country, exposed the darkness of society and despised the powerful. His poems have a profound impact on future generations.