The Yangtze River flows eastward

The Yangtze River flows eastward

Song Dynasty, Su Shi

The Yangtze River flows eastward, its great waves washing away the outstanding heroes of long ago. (1)

On the western side of the ancient fortress, it is said to be the site, known as Red Cliff, where Zhou Yu defeated Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period. 

There, the steep and tumultuous cliffs rise high into the clouds, and the terrifying waves crash against the shore, rolling up countless piles of snow-like waves. 

The rivers and mountains are as magnificent as a painting; I do not know how many heroes and heroines have been nurtured!

Recalling Zhou Yu (also known as Gongjin) from those years, with the beautiful Xiao Qiao just married to him, Zhou appeared particularly majestic and spirited. (2)

Wearing a green silk headscarf, he gently waved a feather fan in his hand. Amid casual conversation and laughter, Cao's warships vanished like ashes and smoke. (3)

Now, as I find myself at the ancient battle scene, lost in thoughts of the past, I should laugh at my own sentimentality and my prematurely gray hair. (4)

Life is like a big dream. It would be better to pour a glass of wine to pay tribute to the moon reflected in the river. (5)

Understanding:

(1) The ever-flowing great river is likened to the long history, where even the once-dominant heroes with the passage of time, drowned in the flood of history.

(2) By depicting Zhou Yu's great victory over Cao Cao's army and his immortal achievements, along with his success in both career and love, the poet contrasts this with his own situation of growing old and remaining unrecognized for his talents.

(3) With a feather fan in his hand and a silk headscarf on his head, Zhou Yu is depicted as a cultured military commander, embodying both literary talent and military strategy finesse. Despite appearing to be casually chatting and laughing,  in fact he is strategizing to defeat the powerful Cao army with his tactics.

(4) When Su Shi wrote this poem, he was nearly fifty years old, underappreciated, and frequently demoted. This led to his prematurely graying hair.

(5) Life is as fleeting as a dream. Since even the most illustrious figures throughout history inevitably fade with time, there is no need to worry about one's own failed career and lack of achievements. All paths lead to the same end. Raising a glass of wine to invite the eternal river moon to drink together reflects his open-mindedness and acceptance.