Demoted to Lan Pass, Addressed to My Nephew Xiang - Han Yu
/左迁至蓝关示侄孙湘 - 韩愈/
Reflections on Devotion Amid Sudden Exile
一封朝奏九重天，
In the morning, I submit a petition to the Ninefold Heavens,
夕贬潮阳路八千。
By evening, I am banished to Chaoyang, eight thousand miles away.
欲为圣明除弊事，
I longed to rid the wise court of its ills,
肯将衰朽惜残年！
Never clinging to my waning years in fear.
云横秦岭家何在？
Clouds stretch across the Qin Mountains—where lies my home?
雪拥蓝关马不前。
Snow piles high at Lan Pass, halting my horse.
知汝远来应有意，
I know you traveled so far for a purpose,
好收吾骨瘴江边。
Please tend my bones on that pestilent southern shore if I should perish.
In the morning, I submit a petition to the Ninefold Heavens,
夕贬潮阳路八千。
By evening, I am banished to Chaoyang, eight thousand miles away.
欲为圣明除弊事，
I longed to rid the wise court of its ills,
肯将衰朽惜残年！
Never clinging to my waning years in fear.
云横秦岭家何在？
Clouds stretch across the Qin Mountains—where lies my home?
雪拥蓝关马不前。
Snow piles high at Lan Pass, halting my horse.
知汝远来应有意，
I know you traveled so far for a purpose,
好收吾骨瘴江边。
Please tend my bones on that pestilent southern shore if I should perish.
This poem captures Han Yu’s abrupt fall from imperial favor and his determination to uphold integrity despite the risk of exile. He addresses his nephew, Sun Xiang, who has journeyed far to see him, hinting at both familial loyalty and the potential burden of caring for him if his exile proves fatal. The first lines frame the abrupt change from delivering counsel to the Emperor in the morning to being sent away by night—a stark transformation that underscores the volatility of court politics.
The poet’s resolve not to cling fearfully to old age highlights his unwavering sense of duty to root out corruption. Facing the vast Qin Mountains and the impassable snow at Lan Pass, Han Yu reveals not just the physical isolation of exile but also the emotional weight of being separated from home and loved ones. Yet amid this bleak setting, he affirms the significance of moral conviction.
By entrusting his nephew with the solemn task of looking after his remains, Han Yu underscores the strength of familial bonds and hints at the transience of human life. Despite the danger and uncertainty, the poem ends on a note of steadfast hope that principles and virtue shall endure, even if his physical journey must end. In this way, Han Yu’s work resonates with the universal struggle between moral fortitude and the hardships imposed by authority or fate.
Key points
• Unwavering duty can lead to personal sacrifice.
• Exile heightens awareness of home and belonging.
• Familial bonds offer solace in times of hardship.
• Moral conviction stands firm even against great adversity.
