Throughout history, any wise country’s success stems from diligence and frugality, while its decline stems from luxury.

"Ode to History" by Li Shangyin of the Tang Dynasty

Looking at the virtuous countries and families in the past, success was due to diligence and frugality, and failure was due to extravagance.

Why should amber be used as a pillow? How can a real pearl be used as a chariot?

It is impossible to find a Qinghai horse when transporting it, and it is difficult to pull out a Shushan snake if you are too weak.

Several people have pre-recorded the song of Nanxun, and in the end the blue sky cries for the green flowers.

Vernacular translation

Throughout history, any wise country’s success stems from diligence and frugality, while its decline stems from luxury.

Why must amber be used as a pillow, and why should a car be made of pearls?

I want to travel far, but I don’t see a thousand-mile horse. I am alone and unable to pull out the fierce snake in Shushan.

How many people have heard Emperor Shun’s Song of the South Wind? I can only cry when Cang Wu faces Cui Huagai.

Extended information

Creative background

This poem was written after the death of Wenzong in the first month of the fifth year of Kaicheng (840). According to the new and old "Tang Shu·Wenzong Ji": "Wenzong was well aware of the shortcomings of the Mu Zong and Jingzong dynasties. After he came to the throne, he worked hard to govern, abandon extravagance and become frugal. He twice tried to kill the eunuchs, but both failed and was "controlled by his family. "Slave", and finally died of depression." (Translation: Wenzong was well aware of the shortcomings of Mu Zong and Jingzong. After taking the throne, he worked hard to govern, to eliminate extravagance and to be frugal. He twice planned to kill the eunuchs, but both failed and had to be punished by the eunuchs. He was restrained and eventually died of depression)

The success of frugality and the failure of extravagance are the routines of the rise and fall of the past dynasties. However, during the reign of Emperor Wenzong, he was diligent and thrifty and made many political efforts to revitalize the imperial court. Nothing was accomplished, and he died in lamentation. Faced with this unexplainable abnormal phenomenon, the poet has vaguely felt that the Tang Dynasty was on the verge of collapse. Even if one or two wise kings and wise ministers appeared, it would be difficult to restore it. When Wenzong was in power, Shang Yin made a lot of ridicule about his weakness; but after his death, he expressed sadness. Whether they are ridiculing or lamenting, they all come from a deep concern for the fate of the country.

It is precisely because of this deep concern that the irreversible collapse of the national destiny has become a fatalistic sadness that is difficult to escape from the poet's heart. If we say that the development and maturity of Li Shangyin's sentimental poetry style is due to his personality and experiences as an individual, then as to the factors of the times, it is actually his breathing and understanding of the declining environment. "Luck meets the end of the world" is the internal and external background that contributes to Li Shangyin's sentimental poetry style. The sense of life experience and the feelings of the end of the world interact and stir up excitement, making the poet's inner sentimentality more and more intense.