Sending Qu Hong Southward - Han Yu
/送区弘南归 - 韩愈/
A Parting Wish for a Friend’s Southern Journey
南来结识几经时，
We met in the southern lands, passing many days together;
惆怅风尘共此辞。
Now with regret, amid dust and strife, we say our farewells.
旧国烟波连楚水，
Your old homeland’s misty waters merge with the rivers of Chu;
新程关塞拂秦旗。
On your new journey, you’ll pass through frontier gates beneath the Qin banners.
归人一棹沧江阔，
Returning home, a single boat traverses the vast blue river;
别路千峰夜月迟。
For those left behind, a thousand peaks and a moon lingering deep into the night.
愿君莫惮行程远，
I hope you will not dread the long road ahead;
他日长沙再相知。
One day in Changsha, may we meet again as old friends.
We met in the southern lands, passing many days together;
惆怅风尘共此辞。
Now with regret, amid dust and strife, we say our farewells.
旧国烟波连楚水，
Your old homeland’s misty waters merge with the rivers of Chu;
新程关塞拂秦旗。
On your new journey, you’ll pass through frontier gates beneath the Qin banners.
归人一棹沧江阔，
Returning home, a single boat traverses the vast blue river;
别路千峰夜月迟。
For those left behind, a thousand peaks and a moon lingering deep into the night.
愿君莫惮行程远，
I hope you will not dread the long road ahead;
他日长沙再相知。
One day in Changsha, may we meet again as old friends.
In this eight-line poem attributed to Han Yu, the poet addresses his friend Qu Hong, who is departing for the south. The poem opens with the shared bond formed ‘in the southern lands’—an evocative phrase suggesting that their friendship has flourished under challenging circumstances. As Qu Hong sets off, Han Yu acknowledges the complexities of travel in a time when crossing frontier gates and navigating dusty roads signified both physical and emotional hardship.
Despite its brevity, the poem skillfully weaves images of wide rivers, distant mountains, and the timeless moon to represent both separation and a belief in enduring friendship. ‘A single boat traverses the vast blue river’ conjures up a powerful picture of an individual making his way across an immense, changeable world. Meanwhile, ‘a thousand peaks and a moon lingering deep into the night’ underscores the poignant loneliness felt by those who stay behind.
Yet, the closing couplet moves from sorrow to a tempered optimism—Han Yu urges his friend not to fear the demanding journey and expresses a firm hope in a future reunion. Changsha, a city in the south, symbolizes a place of potential gathering and renewal. This balance between the sadness of parting and the joy of anticipated reunion mirrors a common theme in Tang poetry, reflecting a worldview in which destiny and friendship intertwine across great distances.
For modern readers, “Sending Qu Hong Southward” offers insight into how the Tang literati coped with frequent relocations and official duties. It emphasizes the idea that, even though one’s path may lead far from friends and familiar places, bonds of fellowship remain strong—ready to be rekindled when fate allows. Its enduring charm rests in Han Yu’s portrayal of wistful yearning, tempered by abiding hope.
Key points
• Highlights the mingled sorrow and optimism of a friend’s departure.
• Uses natural imagery (rivers, mountains, moonlight) to evoke both loneliness and abiding friendship.
• Reflects the Tang-era experience of frequent travel and official postings.
• Balances the pain of separation with the hope of a future reunion.
