Yu Nu Yao Xian Pei (When Lovely Scenes Are Absent) - Liu Yong
/玉女摇仙佩(佳景无时) - 柳永/
Yu Nu Yao Xian Pei (When Lovely Scenes Are Absent) - Liu Yong
/玉女摇仙佩(佳景无时) - 柳永/
In this ci poem set to the tune of “Yu Nu Yao Xian Pei,” Liu Yong mourns the fading of once-lovely surroundings and the loneliness that comes when joy departs. While the title “When Lovely Scenes Are Absent” may suggest the season’s decline, the poem itself underscores emotional rather than purely seasonal loss. Vividly, the poet contrasts former days filled with music and warmth against an atmosphere now marked by silent halls, trailing curtains, and recollections too painful to face.
A crucial feature of Liu Yong’s style is the merging of external images—like the sound of wind against bamboo steps or the distant cries of wild geese—with the poet’s internal sorrow. These natural and architectural details mirror how each memory stirs another wave of longing. The poem also alludes to a once-intimate bond and the rituals of courtly delight: gatherings beneath moonlight, the jeweled staircase bright with color and laughter.
In classical Chinese tradition, small details often reveal the deepest sadness. The softly tapping bamboo evokes the poet’s restless mind, while the “waning lamp” provides a lonely glow amid the nighttime hush. The curtain that falls all the way to the ground hints at a neglected, unvisited space. Throughout, Liu Yong uses these images not just for decorative effect, but to illustrate the contrast between what once was and what is now irretrievably lost.
By the final lines, the poet’s weeping under the dim lamp crystallizes his longing. The “heart-piercing sounds” refer to the intangible echoes of memory—both external (nature’s faint calls) and internal (his own regrets). This layered resonance, where the outer setting matches the inner heartache, is a hallmark of Song Dynasty ci.
Ultimately, “Yu Nu Yao Xian Pei (When Lovely Scenes Are Absent)” teaches us that such poems do more than express grief; they invite us to contemplate how beauty and companionship can fade unexpectedly, yet remain achingly vivid in recollection. Through its delicate structure and poetic images, the piece captures the quiet ache that lingers long after the music stops and the revelers depart.
• Blends vivid imagery of deserted halls and nature’s whispers to convey solitude.
• Contrasts past joy and present neglect, illustrating how time heightens a sense of loss.
• Uses the soundscape (wind, wild geese, tapping bamboo) to reflect inner sorrow.
• Embodies the Song ci tradition of fusing emotional longing with atmospheric detail.