As a prolific poet of the Tang dynasty, the theme of farewell is quite prominent in Wang Wei’s poems. According to Zhao Diancheng36 in Wang Youcheng Ji Jian Zhu (《王右丞集箋注》), roughly 70 of the 420 extant poems of Wang Wei have the theme of farewell (C.T. Shih 259)37. In his introduction, Zhao states that the farewell poems of Wang Wei’s are “elegant with minimal signs of grievance or gripe”38 (D.C.
Zhao 1). This description is one of many reasons why Wang’s farewell poems are highly regarded. Wang Wei was also a great poet of the Shanshui (or landscape) genre, which began with the work of Tao Yuanming (Hinton, “The Selected Poems” xvi).
The characteristics of this genre can be seen in Wang’s farewell poems as well, where his emotions were integrated into the scenery to enhance the atmosphere of the poem.
While discussing the poetic styles of Wang Wei, Wang Tingting states that
“landscape is everything, and nature contains everything, including the poet, who is often simply an entranced, silent watcher” (11).
The characteristics of Wang Wei’s farewell poems are his use of nature and the expression of emotions. The emotions of Wang’s farewell poems emphasize those felt at the event of the parting. Wang also used nature and the scenery around him to reflect his emotions. In Wang’s early years, he thought that achievements in the imperial court were of utmost importance. In his late years, when he was more connected to nature, his mind and horizons broadened. By this time, the center of his farewell poems was mostly that of the Confucian ideals, where a man’s morals are as important as his achievements. Therefore, Wang’s farewell poems became rich in
Wang Wei was" a poem with pictures in it " and " a picture with poems in it" (味摩詰之詩，詩中有畫，
觀摩詰之畫，畫中有詩).
36 Zhao, Diancheng. [趙殿成], 《王右丞集箋注》. 上海: 上海古籍出版社, 1998. Print.
37 Number of poems was provided by C. T. Shih; for list of poems by Wang Wei and those with a farewell theme see appendix 1.
38 “即有送人遠適之篇，懷古悲歌之作，亦復渾厚大雅，怨尤不露。” (D.C. Zhao 1)
elegance and integrity.
As mentioned before, the emotions of his farewell poems were often integrated with the scenery around him. The language he used was simple, but was brimming with emotions. In his farewell poems, Wang does not use complicated words or sentence structure. He uses common imagery to form the scene and to convey his emotions. Wang had two ways of expressing emotions. One was direct expression, allowing the reader to understand his thoughts without too much guesswork. The other was utilizing scenery to express his feelings, which he often used imagery to achieve this effect. In Sending Shen Zifu back to Jiangdong (〈送沈子福歸江東〉)39, Wang used the imagery of “willow” (楊柳) in the opening of the poem, and
“springtime” (春色) to finish setting up the scene in the last line. He connected springtime to the emotions of “longing” (相思), where during the scene of the poem, springtime was all around and following Shen all the way back to his native land.
Shih Changtai divides the main themes of Wang’s farewell poems into three major categories: sending someone off to a military or government post; comforting
someone who has failed the Imperial Examination or been demoted; and sending a friend off into retreat (260). According to Zhao Li40, the number of Wang Wei’s poems with the theme of sending someone off to a military or to post is around 30 pieces, comforting those who have failed the Imperial Examination or have been demoted around 10, and sending someone off into retreat at around 20. There are also around 10 pieces of miscellaneous farewell poems written to family, Taoist priests, teacher of Wang’s, and foreign friends (L. Zhao 66).
In Wang Wei’s poems with the theme of sending someone off to the military or to the borders, the tone is typically grand, optimistic, and hopeful. For example, in Sending Judge Zhang off to Ho Xi (〈送張判官赴河西〉)41, the first two lines describe the poet himself who has been to the borders with a single hope of serving his country, which serves as an encouragement to judge Zhang. The second line is a
39 See appendix 2.10 for the poem in Chinese.
40 Zhao, Li. [趙莉], 〈王維送別詩略論〉. 《和田師範專科學校學報》 28.1 (2009). Print.
41 See appendix 2.11 for the poem in Chinese.
remembrance of great generals by the borders. The elements of “flat sand” (沙平),
“white snow” (白雪), “horseweed” (蓬), and “yellow clouds” (黃雲) are imagery that are associated with the borders, and a representation of the grand landscape of the surroundings creating a sense of openness (L. Zhao 66). The final line is the sentiment displayed for the departing, where the poet describes himself as a warrior wielding the sword, and singing loudly to send off his friend (C.T. Shih 260).
In his farewell poems to those resuming a governmental position, the central tone is typically that of expectation. For example, in Sending a Friend to Xin Guei
Province (〈送邢桂州〉)42, it begins with the imaginary scenery of the friend’s trip and ends with the poet’s encouragements. The poem begins with a sound imagery,
“cymbals” (鐃吹), which is an instrumental imagery, most often used in military music. The cymbals are played during the parting event of the friend, and thus his journey begins. The poet writes of the friend journey sailing (風波) down from the pier of Jin Ko (京口) pass Dongting (洞庭), finally arriving at Chian (赤岸). The imagery of the “sunset” (日落) and the “coming tide” (潮來), combined with the
“green of the sky and land” (天地青), creates a magnificent landscape up on which the friend travels. In the final line, the poet uses allusions to encourage the friend to be an upright government official (C.T. Shih 262).
Wang’s poems written for those who have failed exams or been demoted were often combined with poems of seeing a friend off into retreat. In these poems Wang Wei would express how, like the friend, his ideals were not being fulfilled. The tone of these poems focused often on encouragement and slight envy for the life of leisure in retreat. For example, Sending Qiwu Qian off to His Native Land after Failure in the Examination (〈送綦毋潛落第還鄉〉)43 was a poem for sending off a friend who has failed the Imperial Examination into retreat/native land. During his reign, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (唐玄宗) wished to have many capable court officials.
42 See appendix 2.12 for the poem in Chinese.
43 See section 5.2.1 for the poem in Chinese.
However, due to the vast number of talented participants, there were some who were capable but failed to pass the imperial examination. This can be seen in the first two lines, where Wang Wei described the fluctuation of gifted individuals of the period.
The first attempt at comforting Qi can be seen in the third and fourth line, where Wang Wei described the journey Qi took to get to where he is right now. In the fifth and sixth line, Wang describes the occasion and location of the parting. In the final two lines, Wang describes Qi’s journey back into retreat/his native land, and also attempts to encourage Qi again by saying that it was just not his time.44
Sending Official Yang off who has been Demoted to Chenzhou (〈送楊少府貶郴 州〉)45 is an example of Wang’s poems for a friend who has been demoted. The poem opens with the imaginary journey of official Yang, and the sound imagery of the “ape” (猿聲) is an indication of the sadness of parting. The next two lines continue with Yang’s journey to Chenzhou. In the final line, Wang used the allusion of Jia Yi (賈誼), and as Zhao Li pointed out, the allusion of Jia Yi is typically associated with negative connotations. Wang Wei transformed the negative
connotations into encouragement. Wang Wei suggests that Yang’s many talents will not be overlooked for long by the imperial court (L. Zhao 66).
Although Wang Wei has written farewell poems that served social purposes or at imperial command, according to Shih Changtai, the numbers are few. The farewell poems of Wang Wei reflect the historic beauty of High Tang period, which nurtured the authentic and sincere relationship between people. Wang does not abandon a friend due to demotion or failure. It is from his emotions and respect for his friends that he writes and connects with colleagues and friends (C.T. Shih 264). Furthermore, the aesthetic beauty of Wang Wei’s farewell poems is summarized by Liu Yan46: the techniques of elongating time, conversion of space, use of imagery, and integration of emotions into scenery (75). The beauty of nature and the use of natural images are most prominent in Wang Wei’s poems.
44 Further analysis of this poem and the imagery within will be discussed in chapter four.
45 See appendix 2.13 for the poem in Chinese.
46 Liu, Yan. [劉燕], 〈含蓄蘊藉道別離—試論王維送別詩藝術特色〉. 《內蒙古民族大學學報》
27.3 (2001): 73-75. Print.