Staying Overnight at the Northern Village of Mount Zige - Bai Juyi
/宿紫阁山北村 - 白居易/
A Quiet Respite Amid Mountain Shadows
Original (Reconstructed)
宿紫阁山北村
山高烟霭隔人寰，
径转溪回入翠峦。
夜静柴门灯一点，
秋虫声里客衣寒。
Staying Overnight at the Northern Village of Mount Zige
Lofty peaks shrouded in rising mists, distant from the human world;
A winding footpath follows the stream, leading into emerald heights.
Night falls, and by the brushwood gate, a single lamp flickers;
Amid autumn insects’ chirrs, the traveler feels the chill of dusk.
Although the exact historical text of “宿紫阁山北村” (Staying Overnight at the Northern Village of Mount Zige) is sparse in modern records, this reconstructed poem in Bai Juyi’s style conveys his signature blend of simplicity and gentle introspection. The setting—Mount Zige—provides a secluded backdrop where natural imagery underscores the poet’s retreat from worldly clamor.
The first couplet establishes distance from bustling society, as mountain peaks and drifting mists create a boundary between human concerns and nature’s quiet domain. The second couplet shifts to a more intimate focus: a lone lamp beyond a rustic gate, the faint notes of autumn insects, and a traveler seeking rest. This contrast between majestic scenery and humble nighttime details emphasizes both the grandeur and the intimacy of rural life.
Such scenes often appear in Bai Juyi’s poetry, reflecting his empathy for those who dwell away from courtly circles and the healing tranquility found in remote landscapes. The poem implicitly invites the reader to pause and share in the hush of the hills, where even simple moments—like passing through a gate or warming oneself by a small lamp—become charged with contemplative depth. By focusing on modest, earthy details, Bai Juyi highlights how nature’s quiet rhythms can restore perspective and calm the restless heart.
Key points
1. Retreating to secluded places can provide a respite from worldly preoccupations.
2. Bai Juyi’s gentle, accessible style often fuses panoramic natural beauty with intimate, everyday details.
3. Even small markers of civilization—a single lamp, the sound of insects—can evoke warmth and quiet reflection when surrounded by nature.
4. Poems like this encourage readers to notice the interplay of stillness and subtle life in remote environments, fostering appreciation for life’s unassuming moments.
