"Gǔmǔ Tán Jì" by Liǔ Zōngyuán · Classical Chinese Landscape Travelogue · Tang-Song Classic
Record of Gumu Pond is the second of the Eight Records of Yongzhou (《永州八記》), a series of landscape travelogues by Liǔ Zōngyuán. The text describes in detail the location and formation of the pond, recounts the purchase of fields above the pond, and expresses the author's feelings as a banished official in Yongzhou. While reading, notice:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 773 - 819 CE |
| Courtesy name | Zǐhòu (子厚) |
| Birthplace | Hédōng County, Xièxiàn (today's Yǒngjì, Shānxī) |
| Era | Tang Dynasty |
| Role in literature | Co-led the Classical Prose Movement (古文運動) with Hán Yù, jointly known as "Hán-Liǔ"; one of the "Eight Great Prose Masters of Tang and Song" |
| Early career | Passed the imperial exam young, rose to Vice Minister of Rites (禮部員外郎); actively joined Wáng Shūwén's political reform |
| Banishment | After the reform failed, he was demoted to Sīmǎ of Yǒngzhōu (永州司馬) |
| Literary style | Sharp, biting, satirical; landscape writings rich in symbolism; collected in Liǔ Hédōng Jí |
| Function | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| = probably, perhaps | "蓋其激越而使之然耳" | expressing conjecture |
| = sentence-initial particle (no meaning) | "蓋上出也" | marking the start of a comment |
| Function | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| = moreover | "寬而靜，且深" | expressing progression |
| = will, about to | "且付之" | indicating a future action |
| = even | "且不能" | expressing concession |
Borrowing scenery to express emotions is an indirect way of expressing feelings through descriptions of nature. The writer does not state emotions directly but embeds them within images of landscape.
Liǔ Zōngyuán took part in the "Yǒngzhēn Reforms" (永貞革新) which failed. He was then banished to Sīmǎ of Yǒngzhōu (a low-ranking, exiled post in a remote, barren region). Politically frustrated and personally impoverished, Liǔ used landscape writing to vent his inner discontent.
| Image | Feature | Symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Gumu Pond | Shaped like an iron, water pure and cold | Liǔ Zōngyuán himself (small but distinct, neglected) |
| Clear water | "水潔而寒冽" | The author's noble character |
| Pond's uselessness | "無以利世" | The author's frustration in exile |
| Selling fields | Villagers wanting to sell fields for profit | Sympathy for people's hardship |
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鈷鉧 gǔmǔ | gǔ mǔ | An ancient iron (the pond's name) |
| 冽 liè | liè | Cold, icy |
| 清泠 qīnglíng | qīng líng | Cool, refreshing |
| 幽 yōu | yōu | Secluded, hidden |
| 以為 yǐwéi | yǐ wéi | To use as, to regard as |
| 售 shòu | shòu | To sell |
| 貨 huò | huò | To trade, to buy/sell |
| 致 zhì | zhì | To bring about, to reach |
| 適 shì | shì | Just, exactly |
| 類 lèi | lèi | To resemble, similar to |
| 無以利世 wú yǐ lì shì | wú yǐ lì shì | Of no benefit to the world |
| 激越 jīyuè | jī yuè | Intense, agitated |
| 抵 dǐ | dǐ | To strike against |
| 愚 yú | yú | Foolish |
| 辱 rǔ | rǔ | To humiliate, disgrace |
| 更 gēng | gēng | To change, alternate |
By describing the location and scenery of Gumu Pond and the sale of fields, the author vents his frustration as an exiled official and expresses his concern for the hardships of the common people.
Who wrote Record of Gumu Pond, and when did he live?
The author is Liǔ Zōngyuán (courtesy name Zǐhòu), from Hédōng in today's Shānxī. He was a Tang dynasty writer, one of the "Eight Great Prose Masters of Tang and Song", jointly called "Hán-Liǔ" with Hán Yù.
What is 借景抒情 (borrowing scenery for emotions), and which images does this text use?
借景抒情 is an indirect way of expressing feelings through landscape descriptions.
Images used in this text:
Why was Liǔ Zōngyuán banished to Yongzhou?
Liǔ joined the "Yǒngzhēn Reforms" (永貞革新); after the political reform failed, he was demoted to Sīmǎ of Yǒngzhōu (永州司馬).
What are the Eight Records of Yongzhou, and why are they important?
The Eight Records of Yongzhou are eight landscape travelogues Liǔ wrote after his banishment to Yongzhou, including Record of My First Excursion to Mount Xī, Record of Gumu Pond, Record of the Hill West of Gumu Pond, etc.
They are quintessential works of classical Chinese landscape travelogue and have deeply influenced later prose writing.
What are the uses of the function word gài?
gài (蓋) has two main uses: