ON MEETING LI GUINIAN DOWN THE RIVER
By Du Fu (Tang Dynasty)
We often meet at the residence of Prince Qi,
I heard your music many times in the Cui's hall.
Now it is the great scenery in the south of the Yangtze River,
I meet you again before the flowers are fading.
江南逢李龟年
杜甫（唐）
岐王宅里寻常见，崔九堂前几度闻。
正是江南好风景，落花时节又逢君。
Creative background
This poem was written in the fifth year of the Emperor Daizong Dali reign of the Tang Dynasty (770), when Du Fu was in Tanzhou (now Changsha, Hunan). When Du Fu was a young man, he had outstanding talent and often visited the courtyards of King Qi Li Longfan and the Central Official Supervisor Cui Di, allowing him to appreciate the singing art of the palace singer Li Guinian. After the An Shi Rebellion, Du Fu drifted to the Jiangnan area. In March of the fourth year of the Dali era (769), Du Fu left Yueyang to Tanzhou and stayed there until the spring of the following year. He reunited with Li Guinian, who had wandered into the river and Tanzhou. He recalled the scenes of frequent meetings and listening to songs at the residences of King Qi and Cui Jiu, and was filled with emotions. Therefore, he wrote this poem.
Introduction of related words
- Prince Qi: He is the younger brother of Li Longji. Later, in order to avoid Li Longji's name taboo, he changed his name to Li Fan and was granted the title of King Qi. He was known for his love for learning and talent, and was elegant and skilled in music.
I have something to say
There is an important rule that we will meet the people who are the same with us.