[Poem] REAPPOINTED TO LIANZHOU AND ONWARD TO MANZHOU ACROSS THE RIDGE, PRESENTED TO MY COLLEAGUES - A Reflection on Parting, Duty, and Fellowship

Reappointed to Lianzhou and Onward to Manzhou Across the Ridge, Presented to My Colleagues

Reappointed to Lianzhou and Onward to Manzhou Across the Ridge, Presented to My Colleagues - Liu Yuxi

/再授连州至满州隔岭赠同院诸公 - 刘禹锡/

A Poignant Farewell Winding Over Mountain Paths

【Original Text / Chinese】
再授连州至满州隔岭赠同院诸公

一官方复两情违,
隔岭风烟客路微。
此去知音同院在,
千峰万壑共依依。

【English Translation】
Upon reappointment to Lianzhou, yet our two hearts part;
Beyond the ridge, wind and mist shroud a wanderer’s road.
Departing now, I know dear friends remain in our shared hall;
Across a thousand peaks and myriad valleys, we cling to each other in memory.

In this poem, Liu Yuxi addresses his reappointment to a post in Lianzhou (连州) and subsequent travels onward to Manzhou (满州) across mountainous terrain. The poem is dedicated to his colleagues still serving in the same office or ‘institute’ (同院). While historical details on this specific reappointment are sparse, the verses speak volumes about the poet’s emotional landscape.

The opening line highlights how Liu Yuxi has regained an official position—“一官方复” (a new appointment is secured)—but simultaneously experiences sorrow at parting (“两情违”). This tension between professional duty and personal feeling resonates throughout his work, reflecting the common Tang Dynasty reality of shifting posts and forced separations among scholar-officials.

In the second line, the ridge’s ‘wind and mist’ symbolize the uncertainty and difficulty of travel in a remote, rugged setting. This imagery also underscores the poet’s sense of isolation: though physically crossing over a mountain pass, he is also entering a new chapter in his life, separated from familiar faces and comforts.

The poem’s third line expresses a moment of consolation: “此去知音同院在” (Going away, I know my kindred spirits remain in the same hall). Even if he cannot stay, the fellowship they once shared continues to bind them, transcending physical distance. In the classical Chinese worldview, the notion of ‘知音’ (kindred spirits) refers to those who truly understand one’s heart and aspirations.

The final line broadens the scope, evoking a sweeping landscape of “千峰万壑” (a thousand peaks and myriad valleys). This hyperbolic phrase not only conveys the enormity of the terrain he must traverse but also the depth of the poet’s longing. The slightly archaic phrase “共依依” suggests a wistful clinging or fondness—an emotional bond persisting despite the separation.

Taken together, the poem balances the practical realities of official duty—being ‘reappointed’ and thus obliged to move—and the poignant personal cost of leaving friends behind. Liu Yuxi’s characteristic blend of crisp natural imagery with understated but resonant emotion is fully present here. He captures how physical distance need not obliterate personal connection; rather, shared memories and mutual understanding can traverse even the highest ridges.

Throughout his career, Liu Yuxi often grappled with exile, demotion, and reassignments. These experiences shaped his poetic voice, rendering it both reflective and resilient. “Reappointed to Lianzhou and Onward to Manzhou Across the Ridge, Presented to My Colleagues” stands as a testament to the importance of camaraderie in uncertain times. It also reminds us how journeys—literal or metaphorical—can be tinged with both promise and regret, as one chapter ends and another begins.

Key points

• Highlights the tension between duty (a new post) and the heartache of leaving friends.
• Uses mountain imagery—fog, ridges, countless peaks—to symbolize both physical and emotional distance.
• Emphasizes the strength of fellowship (知音) that endures despite separation.
• Exemplifies Liu Yuxi’s blend of concise natural scenery and wistful reflection, characteristic of late Tang poetry.

Time really flies when you're having fun!
Available in