定风波·莫听穿林打叶声
苏轼
It is a narrative and lyrical ci poem by Song Dynasty poet Su Shi, written in the fifth year of Yuanfeng under the reignof Emperor Shenzong of Song (AD 1082), the third spring after Su Shi was demoted to the Deputy Tuanlianshi of Huangzhou (now Huanggang City, Hubei Province) due to the “Crow Terrace Poetry Trial”.
这首词是宋代文学家苏轼的记事抒怀之词，作于宋神宗元丰五年（公元1082），苏轼因“乌台诗案”被贬为黄州（今湖北黄冈）团练副使的第三个春天。
Calming the Waves
定风波
Listen not to the rain beating against the trees.
Why don’t you slowly walk and chant at ease?
Better than a saddle I like sandals and cane.
I’d fain,
In a straw cloak, spend my life in mist and rain.
莫听穿林打叶声，何妨吟啸且徐行。竹杖芒鞋轻胜马，谁怕？一蓑烟雨任平生。
Drunken, I am sobered by the vernal wind shrill
And rather chill.
In front, I see the slanting sun atop the hill;
Turning my head, I see the dreary beaten track.
Let me go back!
Impervious to rain or shine, I'll have my own will.
料峭春风吹酒醒，微冷，山头斜照却相迎。回首向来萧瑟处，归去，也无风雨也无晴。
The first half of the poem looks at the rain. The first two lines are the essence of the entire poem. “莫听” (listen not to) not only portrays the heavy rain and strong wind, but also conveys that external things are not enough to occupy one’s mind. “何妨” (why don’t) is a bit playful, which is an extension of the previous line and leads to the following line led by “谁怕” (I’d fain). The poet walked slowly at ease in the rain with sandals and cane, and felt better than a saddle, conveying a sense of ease, joy, and boldness in facing life’s challenges and triumphing over adversity with a carefree spirit. At the same time, “轻” means “out of office, out of care”, implying the poet’s boredom and fear of being an official, leading to his intention as a hermit reflecting in “In a straw cloak, spend my life in mist and rain”, which conveys the poet’s unique insights on life.
词的上片着眼于雨中。首两句为全篇枢纽，“莫听”二字既渲染出雨骤风狂，又有外物不足萦怀之意，“何妨”二字逗出一点俏皮，与小序相呼应，是前一句的延伸又引出下文“谁怕”。词人用竹杖芒鞋在雨中从容前行，自我感觉要胜过骑马，传达出一种搏击风雨、笑傲人生的轻松、喜悦和豪迈之情，同时“轻”字有“无官一身轻”的意思，暗含词人对于做官表示厌烦与畏惧，遂起了退隐江湖之意，引出“一蓑烟雨任平生”，寄寓着词人独到的人生感悟。
The latter half of the poem focuses on views after the rain, with the first three lines depicting the scene of sunshine after rain that corresponds to the wind and rain in the first half and also foreshadows his feelings for “rain or shine” along the track below. The poet gained life insights through trivial things in life: waxing and waning has been common and there is no need to doubt it; however, it is difficult to predict when there will be a turnaround if a storm breaks in one’s official career. Only by “go(ing) back”, can one retire from the world and reach the state of “Impervious to rain or shine, I’ll have my own will”. “Rain or shine” in the line is a pun, referring to not only the wind and rain encountered on his way in the wilderness, but also the political storms and the dangerous road of life that almost killed him.
词的下片着眼于雨后。前三句写雨过天晴的景象，与上片所写风雨对应，又为下文对于这一路上的雨而复晴发出人生感慨做铺垫。词人通过生活中的小事，获得人生感悟：自然界阴晴圆缺的循环早已惯见，毋用怀疑；宦途中风雨的袭来却很难料定何时能有转圜？唯有“归去”即退隐江湖，方能达到“也无风雨也无晴”的境界。句中“风雨”二字一语双关，既指野外途中所遇风雨，又暗指几乎置他于死地的政治风雨和人生险途。
Short in length, the poem has a profound artistic conception and rich connotations. With profound meaning in simplicity and extraordinary scenery in ordinariness, it reflects a righteous scholar’s pursuit of liberation despite his bumpy life, demonstrating his broad-mindedness and transcendent life ideals.
全词篇幅虽短，但意境深邃，内蕴丰富，于简朴中见深意，于寻常处生奇景，体现出一个正直文人在坎坷人生中力求解脱之道，表现出词人旷达超脱的胸襟和超凡脱俗的人生理想。
北方民族大学华韵文化双语传播社出品
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《定风波》
导演：杨书鹏
主讲人：何煜晖
中文稿：何煜晖
英文稿：何煜晖
审核：张玫 谭月娥 吴坤 田文慧 吴经纬
剪辑：陆学正
指导老师：张玫
本期编辑：谢凌云
初审：吴坤
终审：张玫
