Poetry of Mao Zedong
In spite of Mao's political radicalism he was artistically conservative, opting to use traditional Chinese forms.
Some of his most well-known poems are "Snow" (1936.02),[1]: 132 "Changsha" (1925), "The Double Ninth" (1929.10), "Loushan Pass" (1935), "The Long March" (1935), "The PLA Captures Nanjing" (1949.04), "Reply to Li Shuyi" (1957.05.11), and "Ode to the Plum Blossom" (1961.12).
High in the Heavens, Eagles sweep and soar In the limpid deep, fish glance and glide; Milliards of creatures fight to be free, Under the frosty skies, cold to the core.
Schoolmates, young as we were, At life's full blossoming, our destinies we fulfill; Scholars we were, of spirit and will Carefree with youthful vigour We point to our rivers and hills, Praise and denounce with our lettering skills, We cared not for fortune nor fame!
Yellow Crane Tower, a building at the bank of Yangtze River in Wuhan, is very famous in Chinese history and literary tradition.
Vast and wide flow the nine streams through the realm headlong Dark and dim from south to north tracks steam strong.
In the thick haze of the misty rain, the way ahead blurred and obscured The Giant Tortoise and Mighty Serpent has the Great River stocked and secured.
As I pour my wine to the raging torrent flow, My blood wells with the waves as my heart gleam and glow!
This poem was written in the Jinggang Mountains,[8] where Mao organized a Red Army to fight KMT forces after 1927.
Our foe besiege us in their thousands, they advance at us headlong, Steadfast like stone, we solidly stand strong Impregnable are our defences, already we dread nought, Now our wills unite, stubborn like our fort.
In 1929, Mao's Red Army left Jinggang Mountains and marched eastward to the western part of Fujian province and built their base there.
By tradition on September 9 (Chinese Lunar Calendar) each year, Chinese people would climb to the peaks of nearby mountains, looking far away, thinking about their family members who are travelling in other places.In addition, during that day, people will drink wine made from chrysanthemum to pray for longevity.
During 1931-1934 Chiang Kai-shek's KMT government organized five so-called "Encirclement" campaigns on CPC's Jiangxi Soviet in Southeastern China.
Mao led the Red Army beating the first three campaigns, then he was relieved of leadership due to internal power struggles of the CPC.
Zhou Enlai and Zhu De led the Red Army to beat the fourth campaign, but they failed the fifth time, and was forced to leave their base and began Long March.
Buzhou Mountain was broken, thus the sky tilted and water poured from heaven, causing a huge flood on earth.
Then on the New Year of 1929 they fought a desperate fight in the snow at Dabodi, using stones and bare hands, and beat their enemy.
Dadu River is at the west part of Sichuan, here in a heroic fight, 22 volunteers carried out a suicide attack on the KMT garrison across the iron-chained Luding Bridge and saved the Red Army from being destroyed.
Five peaks ever majestic, mere crests of a stream, The Wumeng mountains, dark yet stately, we walk clay balls none too extreme.
The Jinsha torrents smite warm mists at cliffs, as sands glisten of gold We cross the Dadu river upon iron chains, bone-chilling cold.
The exalted Minshan Mountain, thousand leagues of snow, Yet our three armies cross it, faces of joy beam and glow!
Acrosseth the air, aboveth in the azure, The Kunlun peaks, snow white, Thou hath't seen the fairest of man and nature Three million jade dragons in flight, Freezing the Heavens, up in the bone-chilling height.
In summer days, to thine melting snow, Thy torrents rage and flow, Where thou hath't sent many a men to sleep tight With the fishes and turtles down below.
Mao added annotations to this poem, commenting "An ancient poet said, 'Three million dragons of white jade are fighting, their broken scales fly all over the sky.
High upon the zenith of the Six Coils crest Fluttering in the west wind, our Red banners glow in zest Today, with the long spear in hand, When shall we seize the Azure Dragon?
Through its descriptions of the limitations of the most prominent emperors in Chinese history and its exhortation to look to the present, the poem reflects Mao's ambitions.
After describing the shortcomings of these past leaders, Mao hints at his aspiration to surpass them, alluding to a famous passage from Romance of the Three Kingdoms where Cao Cao says to Liu Bei that “the only heroes in the world are you and I.” In late April 1949, the communist PLA (People's Liberation Army) crossed the Yangtze River and captured the capital of KMT government: Nanjing.
Wind howls and rain falls upon the Bell Hills in twilight, A million gallant warriors shall cross the river tonight.
After winning the war against the Qin dynasty, Xiang Yu fought against Liu Bang for the control of China.
As I swim across the Ten Thousand league Chang Jiang, I gaze above at the wide Welkin over the ancient Kingdom of Chu.
