卖炭翁 - 白居易
The Charcoal Seller - Bai Juyi
A Stark Glimpse of Poverty and Injustice in the Capital
卖炭翁，伐薪烧炭南山中
An old man sells charcoal, chopping wood and burning it in the southern hills
满面尘灰烟火色，两鬓苍苍十指黑
His face is soiled by dust and ash, his temples are gray, and his fingers stained black
卖炭得钱何所营，身上衣裳口中食
What can he buy with the money from selling charcoal, but clothes on his back and food for his mouth?
可怜身上衣正单，心忧炭贱愿天寒
Pitifully, his clothes are thin—he prays for bitter cold so his charcoal might sell at a better price
夜来城外一尺雪，晓驾炭车辗冰辙
At night, a foot of snow falls outside the city; by dawn, he drives his cart through icy ruts
牛困人饥日已高，市南门外泥中歇
His ox is exhausted, and he is hungry—midday has come; he halts, mired in the mud by the South Gate
翩翩两骑来是谁？黄衣使者白衫儿
Who are these two horsemen riding up so swiftly? Envoys in yellow robes, attendants in white
手把文书口称敕，回车叱牛牵向北
Holding official documents, they invoke an imperial decree, turn his cart around, and drive his ox northward
一车炭，千余斤，宫使驱将惜不得
A whole cart of charcoal, over a thousand pounds—yet palace agents seize it without a second thought
半匹红纱一丈绢，系向牛头充炭直
They offer half a bolt of red gauze, a single length of silk, fastening it to the ox’s head as payment
In “The Charcoal Seller,” Bai Juyi highlights the stark realities that beset those on society’s margins. The poem’s protagonist has only a meager livelihood, chopping wood in the south hills to produce charcoal. He endures a life of hardship—covered in ash, with threadbare clothing—yet his hopes hinge on winter’s chill, which might fetch a higher price for his goods. This harsh detail conveys the precarious balance of rural life, where cold weather paradoxically promises survival.
The narrative intensifies when court officials suddenly appear and commandeer his load of charcoal under the guise of imperial authority. Though they “pay” him with fine fabrics, the value is far below what his hard-earned labor deserves, underscoring the injustice. Bai Juyi’s choice of everyday language and vivid imagery makes the old man’s plight deeply moving. His ox stands exhausted in the mud, and hunger gnaws at both man and beast before noon has even passed.
Through this single incident, Bai Juyi critiques the systemic exploitation prevalent under imperial rule. Those wielding power—here symbolized by brightly robed palace envoys—take from the vulnerable with impunity. “The Charcoal Seller” thus serves not only as a documentary glimpse of Tang-era society but also as a moral outcry. Bai Juyi’s empathetic eye for ordinary people’s struggles, woven into elegant yet unadorned verse, reflects his enduring concern for fairness and compassion in governance. This poem endures as a timeless reminder that prosperity for the few cannot justly be built upon the suffering of the many.
Key points
1. The old man’s plight reveals the gap between imperial demands and the struggles of common folk.
2. Bai Juyi’s direct language makes the social critique accessible and emotionally resonant.
3. Winter’s cold highlights the paradox that extreme hardship can be a source of livelihood.
4. The poem remains a potent reminder of how unchecked power and privilege often exploit the vulnerable.
Comments
Noble Black EagleLike in Bai Juyi’s ‘观刈麦,’ the poet zeroes in on a single laborer’s difficulty. It reminds me of today’s small farmers who must sell produce at low prices while giant corporations dominate the market—both poems highlight how easily simple folk can be trapped in economic inequity.
Mild Black Ant DenReading about modern gig workers braving extreme weather to deliver food makes me think of the coal seller’s struggle. Both endure tough conditions, often unseen, to eke out a living. Bai Juyi’s empathy crosses centuries, reminding us that behind each transaction lies someone’s sweat and desperation.
Storm TigerWith recent news highlighting labor issues, I’m reminded how easily workers can be overlooked by those in power. ‘卖炭翁’ is a timeless call to see and respect the humanity in everyone—especially those bearing the heaviest loads.
Bold Red SharkThe poem’s straightforward language brings to mind Li Bai’s more introspective verses, but here the focus is on social injustice rather than personal musings. In each line, you feel the poet’s indignation at a system that exploits the vulnerable.
Lone Pink Cow PitIn an age of rising prices and economic disparities, this poem feels eerily relevant. Much like gig drivers or street vendors today, the coal seller is caught between necessity and an unjust system. Bai Juyi conveys that sense of powerlessness in each bleak detail: the cold wind, the battered cart, the indifferent passersby. Yet there’s also a quiet resilience. The man keeps going, coaxing his weary horse and offering his product for meager returns. It’s a stark reminder that while technology and centuries have passed, the struggle for fair compensation remains unsolved. Bai Juyi’s empathy transcends time, encouraging us to consider the people behind every transaction. Even if we never see them, their stories matter.
Cosmic DawnReading it alongside Du Fu’s critiques of societal woes, I find Bai Juyi more pointed—he personalizes the suffering through a single character, making the injustice undeniably real.
Mighty Green LionComparing it to Bai Juyi’s ‘卖炭翁’ stands as a companion piece to his other works like ‘琵琶行(并序),’ where he again sympathizes with those at the margins—musicians or laborers—reflecting a consistent thread of compassion throughout his poetry.
Mystic Lunar PrismIt resonates in a tone similar to Du Fu’s laments, yet Bai Juyi’s voice feels more direct—like he’s shining a spotlight on the coal seller’s plight without mincing words.
Wild Black FalconThe raw imagery of ‘卖炭翁’ vividly captures the hardships of an honest worker in a harsh society.
