Li Ping’s Konghou Ballad - Li He
/李凭箜篌引 - 李贺/
Where Celestial Strings Fill Autumn’s Air
吴丝蜀桐张高秋，
Silk from Wu and paulownia from Shu stretch into high autumn air,
空山凝云颓不流。
Clouds congeal above empty mountains, collapsing into stillness.
江娥啼竹素女愁，
A river goddess weeps amid bamboo, the pale maiden bears her sorrow,
李凭中国弹箜篌。
While Li Ping plucks the konghou in the heart of the realm.
昆山玉碎凤凰叫，
Like jade shattering on Mount Kun, a phoenix’s cry resounds,
芙蓉泣露香兰笑。
Lotus sheds dewy tears as fragrant orchids laugh.
十二门前融冷光，
Before twelve palace gates, a cool radiance melts,
二十三丝动紫皇。
Twenty-three strings stir the Purple Emperor himself.
女娲炼石补天处，
Where Nuwa forged stones to mend the heavens,
石破天惊逗秋雨。
Riven rocks startle the skies, coaxing autumn rains.
梦入神山教神妪，
One dreams of sacred peaks to guide ancient deities,
老鱼跳波瘦蛟舞。
Old fish leap through waves, lean dragons twist and dance.
吴质不眠倚桂树，
Wu Zhi sits sleepless, leaning on a cassia tree,
露脚斜飞湿寒兔。
Dew-soaked moonlight slants, chilling the celestial hare.
Silk from Wu and paulownia from Shu stretch into high autumn air,
空山凝云颓不流。
Clouds congeal above empty mountains, collapsing into stillness.
江娥啼竹素女愁，
A river goddess weeps amid bamboo, the pale maiden bears her sorrow,
李凭中国弹箜篌。
While Li Ping plucks the konghou in the heart of the realm.
昆山玉碎凤凰叫，
Like jade shattering on Mount Kun, a phoenix’s cry resounds,
芙蓉泣露香兰笑。
Lotus sheds dewy tears as fragrant orchids laugh.
十二门前融冷光，
Before twelve palace gates, a cool radiance melts,
二十三丝动紫皇。
Twenty-three strings stir the Purple Emperor himself.
女娲炼石补天处，
Where Nuwa forged stones to mend the heavens,
石破天惊逗秋雨。
Riven rocks startle the skies, coaxing autumn rains.
梦入神山教神妪，
One dreams of sacred peaks to guide ancient deities,
老鱼跳波瘦蛟舞。
Old fish leap through waves, lean dragons twist and dance.
吴质不眠倚桂树，
Wu Zhi sits sleepless, leaning on a cassia tree,
露脚斜飞湿寒兔。
Dew-soaked moonlight slants, chilling the celestial hare.
“Li Ping’s Konghou Ballad” (《李凭箜篌引》) by Li He is renowned for its intense, richly imaginative language. The poem centers on Li Ping’s performance of the konghou, an ancient Chinese harp-like instrument, which conjures visions that span both mortal and divine realms. Li He’s vivid images fuse mythological references—like Nuwa mending the sky—with natural phenomena—such as dew and autumn rains—to evoke a sense of otherworldly grandeur.
Right from the opening lines, the interplay of Wu silk and Shu paulownia signals not only fine materials but also the cultural sophistication behind the konghou. The poem then launches into a series of dramatic transformations: a phoenix’s cry likened to shattered jade, a lotus weeping dew, and even the Purple Emperor being stirred by the music. Such hyperbole underscores the idea that art, in this case music, can transcend mortal limits and reach cosmic heights.
Li He’s language is famously lush and compact, full of layered allusions. Elements like the “twelve palace gates,” the “twenty-three strings,” and the mythical references to dragons and a celestial hare highlight the poem’s blend of historical, fantastical, and cultural motifs. The music of Li Ping’s konghou becomes a transformative force that bridges earthly beauty and celestial mystery.
Part of the poem’s power lies in its mysterious, dreamlike structure. Scenes shift rapidly—one moment we observe a mythical goddess, the next we see fish and dragons dancing. These abrupt transitions mirror the way music can transport the listener from one emotional peak to another without explanation. In the final couplet, Wu Zhi’s sleeplessness beneath the cassia tree and the damp cold of the “celestial hare” (the moon) create a quiet, haunting afterimage, leaving readers in a space between myth and reality.
Today, Li He is often celebrated for his unparalleled artistry, which influenced later generations of poets who admired his ability to merge the fantastic, the sensual, and the sublime. This poem exemplifies his signature style: ecstatic imagery that conveys both the sacred and the sorrowful, set against a sonic backdrop so evocative that the reader can almost hear the konghou’s strings echo across time and space.
Key points
• Li He’s poem fuses mythic imagery with music, creating a transcendent experience.
• Vivid allusions (Nuwa, phoenix, dragons, moon hare) reflect the poem’s cosmic scope.
• The konghou performance serves as a bridge between earthly and divine realms.
• Richly woven language and abrupt transitions mirror the ecstatic quality of the music’s effect.
• Li He’s inventive style inspired subsequent poets with its dreamy, high-fantasy resonance.
