Inscription on a Humble Abode - Liu Yuxi
/陋室铭 - 刘禹锡/
In Simple Rooms, Great Spirits Dwell
山不在高，有仙则名。
A mountain need not be high—if an immortal lives there, it is renowned.
水不在深，有龙则灵。
A body of water need not be deep—if a dragon resides within, it is wondrous.
斯是陋室，惟吾德馨。
Here is a humble abode; only virtue brings it fragrance.
苔痕上阶绿，草色入帘青。
Moss creeps green on the steps; grasses lend the curtains a verdant hue.
谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁。
In conversation are great scholars; none who come and go are unlettered.
可以调素琴，阅金经。
One may tune a simple lute, peruse scriptures of gold.
无丝竹之乱耳，无案牍之劳形。
There are no cacophonous instruments to trouble the ear, no bureaucratic documents to weary the body.
南阳诸葛庐，西蜀子云亭。
Recall Zhuge Liang’s cottage in Nanyang, or Yang Xiong’s pavilion in western Shu.
孔子云：何陋之有？
Confucius said: “How can there be anything shabby about it?”
A mountain need not be high—if an immortal lives there, it is renowned.
水不在深，有龙则灵。
A body of water need not be deep—if a dragon resides within, it is wondrous.
斯是陋室，惟吾德馨。
Here is a humble abode; only virtue brings it fragrance.
苔痕上阶绿，草色入帘青。
Moss creeps green on the steps; grasses lend the curtains a verdant hue.
谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁。
In conversation are great scholars; none who come and go are unlettered.
可以调素琴，阅金经。
One may tune a simple lute, peruse scriptures of gold.
无丝竹之乱耳，无案牍之劳形。
There are no cacophonous instruments to trouble the ear, no bureaucratic documents to weary the body.
南阳诸葛庐，西蜀子云亭。
Recall Zhuge Liang’s cottage in Nanyang, or Yang Xiong’s pavilion in western Shu.
孔子云：何陋之有？
Confucius said: “How can there be anything shabby about it?”
“Inscription on a Humble Abode” (《陋室铭》) by Liu Yuxi is a celebrated short prose-poem from the Tang Dynasty. Composed as a ‘铭’ (ming)—an inscription that extols virtues or records moral ideals—it exemplifies the Confucian emphasis on moral integrity over external ornament. Despite calling his living quarters a ‘humble abode,’ the author insists that a space defined by virtue and intellectual companionship transcends any material shortcomings.
In each couplet, Liu Yuxi draws a contrast between external appearances and deeper qualities. A mountain’s renown depends on the immortals who dwell there; a body of water’s mystique arises from a legendary dragon. By analogy, a modest dwelling becomes grand when occupied by someone of upright character. The poet’s focus on the presence of worthy friends and the peaceful pursuits of music and reading underscores a scholar’s ideal life—refined, studious, and removed from worldly clamor.
Mentioning historical figures—Zhuge Liang, the brilliant strategist who lived in rustic retreat, and Yang Xiong, the scholar in western Sichuan—reinforces the idea that true distinction lies not in lavish settings but in wisdom and virtue. The closing line from Confucius, “How can there be anything shabby about it?” (何陋之有), acts as a rhetorical flourish affirming that real worth resides in one’s moral or intellectual depth, not in the grandeur of one’s residence.
“陋室铭” has endured through the centuries as a succinct reminder of how simplicity, sincerity, and a life of the mind can confer dignity far surpassing material display. The piece is recited by students and admired by scholars for its elegant argument: a cramped or unadorned space can shine with the splendor of noble thought and refined conduct.
Key points
• Demonstrates the Confucian tenet that virtue and intellect bestow true honor, regardless of material conditions.
• Uses nature-based analogies (mountains, waters) to highlight that intrinsic qualities outweigh outward form.
• Invokes historical allusions (Zhuge Liang, Yang Xiong) as paragons of simple living and high thinking.
• Encourages readers to value scholarship, friendship, and moral integrity above wealth or social rank.
