台城 - 刘禹锡
Tai Cheng - Liu Yuxi
A Quiet Reflection on a Fallen Capital
六朝旧事随流水，
Past glories of six dynasties flow away with the river,
但见寒烟锁故城。
I only see cold mist enshrouding the old fortress.
兴废几多同一梦，
How many cycles of rise and fall pass as one dream?
夕阳依旧照征鸿。
Yet the setting sun still shines upon the returning wild geese.
Past glories of six dynasties flow away with the river,
但见寒烟锁故城。
I only see cold mist enshrouding the old fortress.
兴废几多同一梦，
How many cycles of rise and fall pass as one dream?
夕阳依旧照征鸿。
Yet the setting sun still shines upon the returning wild geese.
In “Tai Cheng,” Liu Yuxi draws the reader’s gaze toward a once-flourishing capital, now hushed by time. The poem references the ‘six dynasties’ that once made their seat in what is now Nanjing—some of the most illustrious courts in Chinese history. Yet all that remains are faint vestiges of their glory, symbolized by the ‘cold mist’ that envelops the old fortress.
The poem’s central theme is the impermanence of worldly power. The ‘past glories’ that once sparkled at this site have drifted away like the flowing river, leaving behind a scene of quiet stillness. Liu Yuxi underscores the ephemeral nature of prosperity by observing that all these rises and falls unfold ‘as one dream.’ In these few lines, he offers a succinct meditation on the sweeping passage of centuries, which can reduce even the mightiest realms to haunted ruins.
Ending on the note of a sunset lighting the sky for returning wild geese, the poet suggests that nature carries on, largely indifferent to human ambitions. While dynasties come and go, the world’s rhythms continue unabated—symbolized here by evening birds. This gentle yet poignant close encourages us to reflect on how easily human triumphs vanish, replaced by new stories and new journeys.
“Tai Cheng” is consistent with Liu Yuxi’s broader work, as he often contemplates history and the fleeting nature of power. Having experienced political ups and downs himself, he crafts each line with a knowing sensitivity, inviting modern readers to consider how time can humble all empires, just as it reshapes the contours of everyday life. Ultimately, the poem stands as a reminder that our own moments of success or hardship likewise form only one chapter in a far greater story.
Key points
• Highlights the transitory nature of worldly power.
• Uses the contrast of former grandeur against present stillness.
• Emphasizes that history’s cycles unfold like a dream.
• Suggests nature endures even when human empires fade.
Comments
Epic Urban FusionLong comment: even centuries later, ‘台城’ speaks to the universal truth that no center of splendor can forever hold its place. The poem’s subdued sadness suggests a hush that lingers when the crowds have gone and only half-remembered stories remain. In an era where technology spotlights fresh fads so quickly, it’s easy to see parallels—yesterday’s big hits become tomorrow’s quiet corners. Liu Yuxi’s verses capture that intangible transition with understated sorrow, reminding us that each day’s pinnacle eventually yields to new heights, leaving behind only a faint echo for hearts that pause to listen.
Mild Black Ant DenLike Wu Yi Lane, another piece by Liu Yuxi that contemplates lost brilliance in silent streets, '台城' also unveils lingering regrets for bygone vitality. Yet here, the sense of guarded reflection cuts deeper, as if the poet mourns a deserted stage once center to regal pageantry.
Cerulean WhaleSometimes I recall news stories about deserted malls in what were once bustling suburbs. In this poem, Liu Yuxi’s deserted palace city parallels that phenomenon—a quiet stage where only memories echo, while the world’s attention shifts elsewhere.
Quantum Urban PulseShort but potent: it makes me think of modern urban districts that once thrived—factory hubs or old town squares—now overshadowed by new skylines. That hush left behind after prosperity shifts carries the same muted sorrow we find in these lines.
Furious KoalaMiddle reflection: there’s a gentler acceptance in the poem, suggesting that though time erodes familiar grandeur, each crumbled wall retains a faint warmth of remembrance—like digital photo albums people now revisit to recall earlier, simpler times.
Digital Solar FlareAnother modern incident is how some famous tourist sites lose visitors to new trends. The poem’s subdued lament resonates with how older attractions slip from public favor, leaving behind a hush that merges nostalgia with humble endurance.
GoldenBladIts lines hum with a quiet echo of grandeur slipping away, as though each verse is a gentle sigh over an era’s vanished light.
