Han River View - Wang Wei
/汉江临眺 - 王维/
A Reflective Gaze Across the Waters
汉江回万里，
The Han River winds for ten thousand miles.
派作九江流。
Branching into the flow of Nine Rivers.
气蒸云梦泽，
Mists rise from Yunmeng Marsh, hot as steam.
波动岳阳城。
Waves sway the walls of Yueyang City.
欲济无舟楫，
I long to cross but find no boat or oar.
端居耻圣明。
Remaining idle shames me in this enlightened age.
坐观垂钓者，
I sit and watch the fishermen at work.
徒有羡鱼情。
All I hold is envy for their fish.
In this poem, Wang Wei presents a contemplative view of the Han River and the grand sweep of its currents. By depicting the physical vastness—from its winding journey to the distant Nine Rivers—he underscores how nature’s breadth can both humble and inspire the human spirit. The rising mist suggests a world in constant transformation, where water and land intermingle in the marshes, blending the seen and the unseen. As the waves gently lap at the city of Yueyang, the poem highlights how human constructs stand side by side with the relentless flow of time and tide. Wang Wei’s narrator expresses a wish to cross but is without a means—symbolizing the poetic tension between aspiration and limitation. Observing fishermen, he envies their purposeful engagement, suggesting a personal longing for deeper connection or action. Ultimately, this poem invites the reader to pause, reflect, and acknowledge both the magnitude of nature and the introspection it can awaken within us.
Key points
Nature’s expanse can spark reflection; seeking purpose often involves longing; simplicity in observation can foster deeper self-awareness.
