Introduction to Bai Juyi: A Poet Loved by Ordinary People
Bai Juyi (白居易, Bái Jūyì) was one of the greatest poets of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝, Táng cháo). Along with Li Bai (李白, Lǐ Bái) and Du Fu (杜甫, Dù Fǔ), he is considered one of the three most important poets of the Tang period.
Bai Juyi lived from 772 to 846 during the middle and late Tang Dynasty. Unlike many poets who wrote mainly for scholars and officials, Bai Juyi believed poetry should be easy to understand. He wanted ordinary people, including farmers, workers, and elderly people, to enjoy his poems.
His writing style was simple, emotional, and close to daily life. Many of his poems describe human feelings, social problems, friendship, family relationships, and beautiful natural scenes. Because of his clear language, Bai Juyi’s poems are excellent materials for people learning Chinese.
Why Bai Juyi Is Important for Chinese Learners
For many Chinese learners, ancient poetry can seem difficult because Classical Chinese (文言文, wén yán wén) is very different from modern Chinese (现代汉语, xiàn dài Hànyǔ). However, Bai Juyi’s poems are often easier to understand compared with many other ancient poets.
His poems contain many common Chinese words and expressions that are still used today. By reading his works, learners can improve vocabulary, understand Chinese culture, and develop a feeling for the rhythm of the Chinese language.
Bai Juyi also used poetry to express his opinions about society. He believed poets should care about ordinary people’s lives. His famous poem “Song of the Pipa Player” (琵琶行, Pípá Xíng) tells the story of a woman musician and expresses sympathy for people facing hardship.
Bai Juyi’s Famous Poem: Grass
One of Bai Juyi’s most famous early poems is “Grass” (赋得古原草送别, Fù Dé Gǔ Yuán Cǎo Sòng Bié). This poem describes the strong life force of grass growing on an ancient plain.
The most famous lines are:
离离原上草，一岁一枯荣。
野火烧不尽，春风吹又生。
The meaning is:
The grass grows thickly on the ancient plain; every year it withers and flourishes again. Wildfires cannot destroy it completely; when spring winds blow, it grows again.
The poem is often interpreted as a symbol of resilience (坚韧, jiān rèn). Even after difficulties, life continues and new hope appears.
Example sentences:
春风吹又生。(chūn fēng chuī yòu shēng)- Spring winds blow, and new life grows again.
野火烧不尽。(yě huǒ shāo bù jìn)- Wildfires cannot burn it completely.
这首诗表达了生命的力量。(zhè shǒu shī biǎo dá le shēng mìng de lì liàng)- This poem expresses the power of life.
Bai Juyi’s Famous Poem: Song of Everlasting Regret
Another famous work is “Song of Everlasting Regret” (长恨歌, Cháng Hèn Gē). It tells the tragic love story between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (唐玄宗, Táng Xuánzōng) and Yang Guifei (杨贵妃, Yáng Guìfēi).
One of the most famous lines is:
在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝。
Meaning:
In heaven, we wish to become birds flying together; on earth, we wish to become branches growing together.
This poem became one of the most famous Chinese romantic poems. The expressions 比翼鸟 (bǐ yì niǎo) and 连理枝 (lián lǐ zhī) are still used today to describe devoted love between couples.
Example sentences:
他们的爱情像比翼鸟一样。(tā men de ài qíng xiàng bǐ yì niǎo yí yàng)- Their love is like two birds flying together.
很多中国人喜欢《长恨歌》。(hěn duō Zhōng guó rén xǐ huān “Cháng Hèn Gē”)- Many Chinese people like “Song of Everlasting Regret.”
爱情是中国诗歌的重要主题。(ài qíng shì Zhōng guó shī gē de zhòng yào zhǔ tí)- Love is an important theme in Chinese poetry.
Bai Juyi’s Famous Poem: Song of the Pipa Player
“Song of the Pipa Player” (琵琶行, Pípá Xíng) is Bai Juyi’s masterpiece. It describes a meeting between the poet and a female pipa musician (琵琶, pí pá).
The poet hears her beautiful music and learns about her unhappy life. Through this story, Bai Juyi expresses sympathy for people who experience loneliness and hardship.
The famous line:
同是天涯沦落人，相逢何必曾相识。
Meaning:
We are both unfortunate people wandering at the edge of the world; why should we have known each other before meeting?
This sentence expresses the idea that people who share similar experiences can understand each other deeply.
Example sentences:
同是天涯沦落人。(tóng shì tiān yá lún luò rén)- We are both people suffering far from home.
音乐可以表达人的感情。(yīn yuè kě yǐ biǎo dá rén de gǎn qíng)- Music can express human emotions.
他听到了美丽的琵琶声。(tā tīng dào le měi lì de pí pá shēng)- He heard beautiful pipa music.
Bai Juyi’s Poems About Friendship
Friendship is another important theme in Bai Juyi’s poetry. He wrote many poems about his friends, especially his close friend Yuan Zhen (元稹, Yuán Zhěn), who was also a famous Tang poet.
Their friendship lasted many years, and their poems often expressed longing when they were separated.
One famous poem is “Dreaming of Yuan Zhen” (梦微之, Mèng Wēi Zhī). In this poem, Bai Juyi remembers his friend after his death.
Example sentences:
朋友之间需要真诚。(péng yǒu zhī jiān xū yào zhēn chéng)- Friends need sincerity between each other.
我想念远方的朋友。(wǒ xiǎng niàn yuǎn fāng de péng yǒu)- I miss my friends far away.
古代诗人常常写友情。(gǔ dài shī rén cháng cháng xiě yǒu qíng)- Ancient poets often wrote about friendship.
How Bai Juyi’s Poetry Helps Learn Chinese
Bai Juyi’s poetry is valuable for Chinese learners because it connects ancient language with modern Chinese expressions.
Many words from his poems are still common today:
白日 (bái rì) means daytime or bright day.
故乡 (gù xiāng) means hometown.
思念 (sī niàn) means missing someone.
人生 (rén shēng) means life.
离别 (lí bié) means separation.
These words appear frequently in modern conversations, novels, songs, and films.
Reading Bai Juyi helps learners recognize Chinese cultural ideas such as family relationships, friendship, nature, and human emotions.
How to Read Bai Juyi’s Poems as a Beginner
Start by reading the original Chinese characters slowly. Do not try to understand every word immediately. First understand the general feeling of the poem.
Then check the pronunciation and meaning. Pay attention to repeated words and images. Chinese poetry often uses natural objects such as the moon (月, yuè), flowers (花, huā), rivers (江, jiāng), and mountains (山, shān) to express emotions.
For example, when Bai Juyi writes about grass growing again after fire, he is not only describing nature. He is expressing hope and strength.
Example sentences:
读诗可以提高中文水平。(dú shī kě yǐ tí gāo Zhōng wén shuǐ píng)- Reading poetry can improve Chinese ability.
理解诗歌需要时间。(lǐ jiě shī gē xū yào shí jiān)- Understanding poetry requires time.
中国诗歌充满感情。(Zhōng guó shī gē chōng mǎn gǎn qíng)- Chinese poetry is full of emotions.
Bai Juyi’s Influence on Chinese Culture
Bai Juyi’s influence extends far beyond the Tang Dynasty. His poems were popular not only in China but also in Japan, Korea, and other parts of East Asia.
Chinese students still memorize his poems today because they represent important values in Chinese culture: compassion (同情, tóng qíng), friendship (友情, yǒu qíng), love (爱情, ài qíng), and respect for ordinary people.
For foreigners learning Mandarin, Bai Juyi provides a bridge between language and culture. His poems show that Chinese poetry is not only about beautiful words; it is also about human experiences that people around the world can understand.
Vocabulary: Important Words from Bai Juyi’s Poetry
- 白居易 (Bái Jūyì)- Bai Juyi, a famous Tang Dynasty poet
- 诗歌 (shī gē)- poetry, poems
- 思念 (sī niàn)- to miss someone, longing
- 故乡 (gù xiāng)- hometown
- 离别 (lí bié)- separation, farewell
- 感情 (gǎn qíng)- emotion, feeling
- 生命 (shēng mìng)- life, existence
