New Yuefu (No. 1) — “Light or Fat” (轻肥) - Bai Juyi
/新乐府(其一) - 白居易/
A Social Critique of Extravagance Versus Want
轻肥（新乐府其一）
天街风雨来，
宫市酒肉香。
不见贫民泣，
但闻歌吹忙。
还愁百姓瘠，
谁顾王孙狂？
宴罢弦管散，
连宵未肯央。
Light or Fat (New Yuefu No. 1)
Along the Imperial Avenue, the wind brings rain—
Yet from the palace markets drifts the aroma of wine and meat.
None behold the common folk weeping in dire need;
All one hears is hurried singing and the clamor of feasting.
Should we not mourn the meager rations of the poor?
Who will restrain the aristocrats’ wild indulgences?
When the lavish banquet ends, the flutes and strings disperse—
Though revelry through the night shows little sign of ceasing.
In his “New Yuefu” series, Bai Juyi sought to rejuvenate the ancient Yuefu (Music Bureau) tradition by blending poignant social commentary with accessible language and melody. “Light or Fat” (轻肥)—often placed as the first poem of this cycle—offers a sharp critique of the Tang dynasty’s aristocratic excesses. While the ruling elite squander resources on fine foods and endless banquets, ordinary citizens struggle with hunger and daily hardship.
With unadorned yet incisive lines, Bai Juyi contrasts opulent feasting against the stark plight of the poor. The poem begins by conjuring the sights, smells, and sounds of the palace district, then swiftly reminds the reader that such luxury comes at the cost of the many who can barely secure basic sustenance. By highlighting what remains unseen—“the common folk weeping in dire need”—the poet emphasizes how revelers often fail to notice or heed these injustices.
Key to Bai Juyi’s success was his commitment to simplicity and clarity. Rather than relying on cryptic allusions, he appealed directly to moral conscience, underscoring his belief that literature should awaken empathy and spur reform. “Light or Fat,” like the rest of the “New Yuefu,” exemplifies Bai Juyi’s mission to use poetic craft in service of ethical introspection: readers are left to question the fairness of a society content with music and indulgence while its weakest members starve. Over a millennium later, the poem continues to resonate as a reminder that true prosperity must include everyone, not just a privileged few.
Key points
1. Bai Juyi’s “New Yuefu” poems aimed to revive poetry’s role as a vehicle for social commentary.
2. “Light or Fat” juxtaposes the lavish lifestyles of aristocrats with the everyday hunger of commoners.
3. Using straightforward imagery and plain diction, Bai Juyi confronts readers with uncomfortable truths.
4. The poem remains a timeless appeal for empathy, urging society to address disparities rather than revel in unchecked luxury.