Wang Hai Chao (Southeast Stands Supreme) - Liu Yong
/望海潮(东南形胜) - 柳永/
Where Prosperity and Scenic Grandeur Converge
【Original Chinese / Pinyin / English Translation】
望海潮(东南形胜)
Wàng Hǎi Cháo (Dōng Nán Xíng Shèng)
Song of Watching the Sea Tide (Southeast Stands Supreme)
东南形胜，三吴都会，钱塘自古繁华。
Dōng nán xíng shèng, sān Wú dū huì, Qián táng zì gǔ fán huá.
Southeast lies majestic, the meeting hub of the Three Wu regions, Qiantang has prospered since ancient days.
烟柳画桥，风帘翠幕，参差十万人家。
Yān liǔ huà qiáo, fēng lián cuì mù, cēn cī shí wàn rén jiā.
With misty willows, painted bridges, breezy drapes, and jade screens, a hundred thousand households cluster unevenly.
云树绕堤沙，怒涛卷霜雪，天堑无涯。
Yún shù rào dī shā, nù tāo juǎn shuāng xuě, tiān qiàn wú yá.
Cloud-like trees border sandy banks, angry waves roll like frost and snow, the natural barrier extends without end.
市列珠玑，户盈罗绮，竞豪奢。
Shì liè zhū jī, hù yíng luó qǐ, jìng háo shē.
Markets brimming with pearls and gems, households filled with silk and brocade, all competing in splendor.
重湖叠巘清嘉，
Chóng hú dié yǎn qīng jiā,
Overlapping lakes and layered peaks lend pristine grace.
有三秋桂子，十里荷花。
Yǒu sān qiū guì zǐ, shí lǐ hé huā.
Autumn cassia (osmanthus) perfumes the air, lotus blooms stretch for miles.
羌管弄晴，菱歌泛夜，嬉嬉钓叟莲娃。
Qiāng guǎn nòng qíng, líng gē fàn yè, xī xī diào sǒu lián wá.
Bamboo flutes echo in fair weather, water-chestnut songs drift into the night, fishermen and lotus gatherers sport merrily.
千骑拥高牙，乘醉听箫鼓，吟赏烟霞。
Qiān qí yǒng gāo yá, chéng zuì tīng xiāo gǔ, yín shǎng yān xiá.
A thousand horsemen throng around noble banners; in tipsy delight, they listen to flutes and drums, composing verse in the rising mist.
异日图将好景，归去凤池夸。
Yì rì tú jiāng hǎo jǐng, guī qù fèng chí kuā.
One day, I shall capture these vistas in painting and return to boast of them at Phoenix Pond.
望海潮(东南形胜)
Wàng Hǎi Cháo (Dōng Nán Xíng Shèng)
Song of Watching the Sea Tide (Southeast Stands Supreme)
东南形胜，三吴都会，钱塘自古繁华。
Dōng nán xíng shèng, sān Wú dū huì, Qián táng zì gǔ fán huá.
Southeast lies majestic, the meeting hub of the Three Wu regions, Qiantang has prospered since ancient days.
烟柳画桥，风帘翠幕，参差十万人家。
Yān liǔ huà qiáo, fēng lián cuì mù, cēn cī shí wàn rén jiā.
With misty willows, painted bridges, breezy drapes, and jade screens, a hundred thousand households cluster unevenly.
云树绕堤沙，怒涛卷霜雪，天堑无涯。
Yún shù rào dī shā, nù tāo juǎn shuāng xuě, tiān qiàn wú yá.
Cloud-like trees border sandy banks, angry waves roll like frost and snow, the natural barrier extends without end.
市列珠玑，户盈罗绮，竞豪奢。
Shì liè zhū jī, hù yíng luó qǐ, jìng háo shē.
Markets brimming with pearls and gems, households filled with silk and brocade, all competing in splendor.
重湖叠巘清嘉，
Chóng hú dié yǎn qīng jiā,
Overlapping lakes and layered peaks lend pristine grace.
有三秋桂子，十里荷花。
Yǒu sān qiū guì zǐ, shí lǐ hé huā.
Autumn cassia (osmanthus) perfumes the air, lotus blooms stretch for miles.
羌管弄晴，菱歌泛夜，嬉嬉钓叟莲娃。
Qiāng guǎn nòng qíng, líng gē fàn yè, xī xī diào sǒu lián wá.
Bamboo flutes echo in fair weather, water-chestnut songs drift into the night, fishermen and lotus gatherers sport merrily.
千骑拥高牙，乘醉听箫鼓，吟赏烟霞。
Qiān qí yǒng gāo yá, chéng zuì tīng xiāo gǔ, yín shǎng yān xiá.
A thousand horsemen throng around noble banners; in tipsy delight, they listen to flutes and drums, composing verse in the rising mist.
异日图将好景，归去凤池夸。
Yì rì tú jiāng hǎo jǐng, guī qù fèng chí kuā.
One day, I shall capture these vistas in painting and return to boast of them at Phoenix Pond.
“Wang Hai Chao (Southeast Stands Supreme)” by Liu Yong is one of the most celebrated ci poems of the Northern Song Dynasty. Written to the tune “Wang Hai Chao,” it paints a sweeping portrait of the Hangzhou region (historically called Qiantang), renowned for its striking natural scenery and flourishing prosperity.
From the very start, the poem underscores the city’s longstanding affluence, labeling Qiantang a significant hub in southeastern China—an area sometimes referred to as the ‘Three Wu regions.’ Liu Yong mingles images of cultured opulence (silks, pearls, ornate bridges) with the unbridled force of nature (roaring waves that mimic frost and snow). This balance between human refinement and the awe of rivers and mountains conveys why Hangzhou was—and remains—an iconic symbol of Chinese beauty.
The poem then lingers on the region’s famed vistas: overlapping lakes dotted with lotus blossoms and autumn osmanthus that perfumes the air, signifying abundant growth and an idyllic climate. Meanwhile, flutes and folk songs echo across the water at night, portraying an atmosphere alive with leisurely charm. Liu Yong’s mention of fishermen and lotus gatherers, joined by high-ranking figures and their retinues, offers a sense of social harmony—everyone partaking in the city’s splendor.
In the final section, the poet envisions memorializing this scene in painting, hoping to present its glory to distant admirers upon his return. This gesture captures the essence of ci poetry’s mission: not merely to witness but to celebrate and immortalize experiences. In a dynasty famous for arts and letters, Liu Yong’s poem stands out for fusing exuberant language with graceful structure.
Its lasting legacy is tied to its ability to evoke Hangzhou’s dual identity—a place of urban luxury matched by dramatic natural grandeur. For centuries, travelers and poets have visited West Lake (the heart of Hangzhou), echoing Liu Yong’s awe. As a result, “Wang Hai Chao (Southeast Stands Supreme)” remains a quintessential ode to Hangzhou’s magical charm. It encapsulates the synergy between urban life and nature, capturing a living tapestry of music, festivals, and quiet corners where mist drifts over water.
At its core, this poem shows Liu Yong’s hallmark style: fluid lines that transition elegantly between panoramic descriptions and local details, all unified by a melodic structure. This approach makes it one of the definitive works in ci literature, cherished across generations for revealing the grandeur and cultural depth of a city that continues to inspire.
Key points
• Celebrates the region of Hangzhou (Qiantang) as a masterpiece of both natural beauty and cultural abundance.
• Seamlessly intertwines images of shimmering markets, lotus-filled lakes, autumn osmanthus, and merry festivities.
• Demonstrates ci poetry’s blend of lyrical elegance, rich imagery, and emotional resonance.
• Stands as a timeless tribute to one of China’s most beloved cultural and scenic centers, underscoring the synergy between nature and urban splendor.
