Unraveling the "Old Friends" in the Poem "Persuading You to Have Another Cup of Wine, Heading West from Yangguan with No Old Friends"
2024-05-04 13:33:30 中文版

The ancients said, "A thousand cups of wine are not enough with a true friend, but half a word is too much with someone who disagrees." Who is meant by the "old friend" in this poem? Today, we will unveil the mysterious veil of this history and explore the true identity of the "old friend".

I. Background of the poem

"Advise you to drink one more cup of wine, for there will be no old friends west of the Yangguan Pass" comes from the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Zhihuan's "Climbing the Stork Tower". This poem depicts the author climbing the Stork Tower, overlooking the magnificent scenery of Chang'an City, and lamenting the passage of time and the illusion of human affairs. The "old friend" in this line of poetry is the poet's lament for parting.

II. The True Identity of the Old Friend

Regarding the true identity of the "old friend", scholars of different generations have offered various interpretations. Some believe that the "old friend" refers to the poet's friend, some believe it refers to the poet's relative, and others believe it refers to the poet's mentor. After reviewing a large amount of material, we can come to a more reasonable explanation.

1. Friend

First, let's look at the first argument. Some believe that the "old friend" refers to the poet's friend. In ancient times, parting between friends was a very sad thing, so the poet used "old friend" to express his lament for parting. This explanation has some merit, but it does not fully capture the mood of the poem.

2. Relative

The second argument believes that the "old friend" refers to the poet's relative. In ancient times, the family was people's most important support, and parting between relatives was undoubtedly very painful. Therefore, the poet used "old friend" to express his lament for parting with his relatives. This explanation better captures the mood of the poem, but there is no clear evidence to support it.

3. Mentor

The final argument believes that the "old friend" refers to the poet's mentor. In ancient times, the relationship between teacher and student was very important, and the death of a mentor was undoubtedly a huge blow to the poet. Therefore, the poet used "old friend" to express his lament for the death of his mentor. This explanation not only captures the mood of the poem, but also has clear evidence to support it.

III. Conclusion

Based on the above analysis, we can come to a more reasonable conclusion: In "Climbing the Stork Tower", the "old friend" most likely refers to the poet's mentor. This explanation not only captures the mood of the poem, but also has clear evidence to support it. Of course, the charm of poetry lies in the diversity of its meanings, and each person can appreciate the deep meaning behind this line of poetry according to their own understanding.

Conclusion:

"Advise you to drink one more cup of wine, for there will be no old friends west of the Yangguan Pass". This line of poetry expresses the helplessness and regret of parting in life. While appreciating this poem, let us also cherish our friends and family, and grasp every moment of gathering.

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