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汉 Han · 诗 Poem

大风歌

Song of the Great Wind

刘邦

Liu Bang

帝王Emperor 豪迈Heroic Boldness

大风起兮云飞扬，威加海内兮归故乡，安得猛士兮守四方！

A great wind rises, clouds flying and soaring.
My might rules all within the seas, I return to my homeland.
How can I get brave warriors to guard the four corners!
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Meaning

The poem begins with a sweeping natural image of wind and clouds, symbolizing the turbulent times and the poet's rise. The second line expresses the pride of unifying the realm and returning home in glory. The final line shifts to a plea for loyal warriors to defend the borders, revealing the emperor's concern for maintaining the empire.

大风骤起啊，云彩漫天飞扬；威震四海啊，我回到久别的故乡；怎样才能得到勇猛的壮士啊，为我镇守这四方疆土！

Appreciation

This three-line poem is a masterpiece of emotional depth and concise expression. The opening line uses the grand image of wind and clouds as a metaphor for the chaotic era and the poet's own ascent. The second line conveys the triumphant return home with authority over the land. The abrupt turn in the last line from confidence to a heartfelt request shows Liu Bang's awareness of the challenges of rule. The use of the exclamatory 'xi' (兮) adds a rhythmic, plaintive quality, blending pride with anxiety.

【白话串讲】 刘邦平定天下后回乡，酒酣时唱：“大风起兮云飞扬，威加海内兮归故乡，安得猛士兮守四方”——打完天下，他最怕的是没人守天下。三句话，写尽了一个皇帝的不安。 【意象与手法】 全诗仅三句，却起承转合俱全。首句以「大风起、云飞扬」的阔大意象起兴，暗喻乱世风云与雄主气魄，景中寓势；次句「威加海内归故乡」由景入情，写功成衣锦之狂喜，气焰夺人；末句「安得猛士守四方」陡然转折，由个人荣归升到社稷安危，以「兮」字骚体收束，短促有力。 【情感与主旨】 刘邦于平定英布叛乱、荣归沛县故里时击筑高歌此曲，既抒一统天下的豪迈，亦露功成后求贤守成的深忧。三句短歌，气象阔大，英雄襟怀与帝王心思交织，是楚汉之际最摄人心魄的即兴绝唱。 【名句点睛】 常考：①「大风起兮云飞扬」的起兴手法与象征意味；②「安得猛士兮守四方」所寄的求贤守成之忧；③与项羽《垓下歌》对读，比较楚汉英雄的豪迈与悲凉。

Background

Composed by Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, after suppressing the rebellion of Ying Bu in 195 BCE. On his way back to his hometown Pei County, he held a feast and sang this song while playing the zhu, moved to tears. At that time, he was in his old age, celebrating his achievements but also worrying about the threats from vassal kings and the Xiongnu, hence the mix of heroism and concern.

《大风歌》为汉高祖刘邦（前256—前195）所作，事见《史记·高祖本纪》。高祖十二年（前195）十月，刘邦亲自率军讨平淮南王英布的叛乱，班师途中经过故乡沛县，于是置酒沛宫，悉召故人父老子弟纵酒欢会，并征召沛中少年百二十人教习歌唱。酒酣之际，刘邦亲自击筑（一种弦乐器），即兴高歌此诗，并起舞慷慨伤怀，泣下数行。此时刘邦年已六十二岁，暮年多病，讨伐英布时又中流矢，自知来日无多。天下虽已一统，但异姓诸侯王韩信、彭越、英布等相继被剪除，而匈奴时时寇边，边防未固，猛士难求，这位开国帝王在衣锦还乡的豪情之中，涌动着对社稷安危的深深忧虑。此歌即兴而成，未经雕琢，却于三句之中写尽一代雄主的襟怀与心事，是楚汉之际最真实、最动人的帝王之声，也是中国诗歌史上最早的帝王抒情诗之一。此歌虽仅三句，却是汉代文学的开篇之作，也是中国诗歌史上第一首出自开国帝王之手的抒情诗，其史料价值与文学价值并重。

Art

Despite its brevity of three lines, the poem has a clear structure: opening with a grand image, moving to personal triumph, and ending with a sharp turn to political anxiety. The use of the Chu-style 'xi' particle gives it a song-like quality, and the rhyme on 'yang', 'xiang', 'fang' creates a resounding effect. The language is straightforward yet powerful.

全诗仅三句二十余字，却起承转合俱全，章法精悍无比。首句「大风起兮云飞扬」以兴开篇：大风骤起，云彩飞扬，既是眼前沛地苍茫的自然景象，又暗喻秦末群雄并起、楚汉相争的乱世风云，更象征这位从乱世中崛起的一代雄主的磅礴气魄，景中寓势、兴而兼比，气象阔大。次句「威加海内兮归故乡」由景入情、由虚入实：写功成业就、威震海内之后重返故乡的衣锦之荣，「威加海内」四字写尽统一天下的赫赫功业，「归故乡」三字又带出沛县父老的故土之亲，得意之中暗含沧桑——当年泗水亭长，如今四海之主。末句「安得猛士兮守四方」陡然一转，于鼎沸处泼一盆冷静：由个人的荣归、眼前的欢宴，猛然升到社稷安危的叩问，豪情与忧思并作，全诗在三句之内完成由景到情、由情到思的升华，余味不尽。尤可注意者，三句之中，大风、威加、安得层层递进，由天及人、由人及国，二十余字写尽一代雄主的气象与心事。

Allusions

The poem inherits the Chu song tradition with the 'xi' particle (Liu Bang was from Chu and loved Chu music). The image of the great wind may be inspired by the wind imagery in Zhuangzi. The phrase 'might covers all within the seas' echoes the classical idea of imperial authority. The concern for 'brave warriors to guard the four corners' reflects historical worries about border security and the need for loyal generals.

此歌承楚辞「兮」字句式的骚体传统。刘邦为沛县（楚地）人，好楚声，楚辞以「兮」字为语助，节奏舒缓悠长，刘邦以楚声即兴成歌，天然便合骚体。意象上，「大风」一词气象宏阔，或受《庄子·逍遥游》「抟扶摇而上者九万里」之雄风意象启发，更开启后世以「大风」咏怀言志的传统（如曹操《观沧海》之气象、苏轼词中「一点浩然气，千里快哉风」之襟怀）。「威加海内」写帝王威权远被四海，承《尚书》《诗经》颂扬先王功业之体，气度非凡。「安得猛士兮守四方」则以慨问作结，暗含对异姓诸侯王与匈奴边患的深忧——史载高祖晚年屡诛功臣、亲征匈奴，正此忧之实。全歌三句，句句有出处、字字见性情，将楚声骚体、帝王气魄、求贤之忧熔于一炉，是「以史为诗」的绝唱。后世以大风为题者代有其人，如汉代帝王宴飨多奏《大风歌》，可见此歌已成为帝王气度与国家气象的文化符号，其影响远超出诗歌本身。是以三句之中，典故与性情相得益彰，成其慷慨悲歌之气象。

Commentary

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Liu Bang danced and sang this song, shedding tears. He told the elders that even though his capital was in Guanzhong, his soul would always long for Pei. Later critics praised its blend of heroic spirit and genuine emotion, calling it the greatest imperial song.

《史记·高祖本纪》详载此歌本事：「高祖乃起舞，慷慨伤怀，泣数行下。谓沛父兄曰：『游子悲故乡。吾虽都关中，万岁后吾魂魄犹乐思沛。』」裴骃《史记集解》引应劭曰：「高祖欲归沛，因作此歌。」史家记录此歌，不仅因其为开国帝王之作，更因其真实展现了英雄暮年的复杂心绪——衣锦还乡的豪情与守业维艰的忧思交织，慷慨与伤怀并存。后世评价极高：明代胡应麟称「帝王之作，无如此歌之悲壮」，近人更誉其为「千古帝王第一歌」。在中国诗歌史上，《大风歌》与项羽《垓下歌》并称楚汉悲歌双璧：一为胜者的豪唱，一为败者的绝吟，皆以三言两语写尽英雄本色。此歌对后世影响深远，「大风」成为咏怀言志的经典意象，其慷慨悲壮之气，千载之下犹能感人。今日读此歌，犹能感受那位布衣天子在沛宫击筑起舞的慷慨之姿，它让我们看到：英雄的豪迈与忧患，从来是一体两面，这正是《大风歌》千古不衰的魅力所在。

Prosody

Form Han Dynasty Chu Song (three-line sao style)汉·楚歌（骚体，三句）
Rhyme yang, xiang, fang (ancient Yang rhyme)押古阳部韵：扬、乡、方（平水韵下平七阳），三句一韵到底。
Tone pattern Each line uses 'xi' as a pause, uneven length, vigorous; no parallelism三句皆以「兮」字为语助，句式为「三言兮三言」「四言兮三言」的长短错落（七字、八字），不拘对仗、音节奔放激越，以楚声慷慨悲歌之调出之，气势夺人；前两句气盛音洪，末句以慨问作结，声情由扬入抑、由壮入悲。
Reading note Composed by Liu Bang after suppressing Ying Bu, returning to his hometown; the three short lines combine magnificence and sorrow, expressing both pride and deep concern.《大风歌》为楚歌体，是楚辞骚体在汉代民间的流变。刘邦是沛县（楚地）人，好楚声，楚辞以「兮」字为句中语助，造成音节上的延宕与回环；此歌三句皆用「兮」字，即承此传统，与项羽《垓下歌》（「力拔山兮气盖世」）同为楚声绝唱。句式上，三句为七言、八言错落（三言兮三言、四言兮三言），长短参差、不拘对仗，正合即兴高歌的自由节奏，读来音节奔放、气势激越，如见其击筑起舞、慷慨悲歌之状。用韵上，「扬、乡、方」三字上古同属阳部（平水韵下平七阳），一韵到底，开口度大、音响洪亮，正与歌中的豪迈之气相称。三句短章而兼具豪迈与苍凉：前两句气盛音洪，末句陡然转低，以慨问作结，声情由扬入抑、由壮入悲，恰合英雄暮年的复杂心绪。楚歌体的自由奔放，在此歌中达到极致，是帝王诗中的绝唱，也是骚体诗在汉代最激动人心的回响。

Line by line

大风起兮云飞扬

A great wind rises, clouds flying and soaring. This opening uses the grand natural scene as a metaphor for the chaotic times and the poet's own rise, setting a broad and powerful atmosphere.

大风骤起啊，云彩漫天飞扬。

A great wind rises, and the clouds blow across the sky.

首句以「兴」开篇，是全诗气象的奠基。「大风起兮云飞扬」字面写自然景象：大风骤起，云彩随风飞扬，天地为之变色；而兴兼比意——这翻涌的风云，正是秦末天下大乱、群雄逐鹿的乱世写照，也是刘邦本人从布衣起兵、斩白蛇、入关中、灭强楚，一路叱咤风云的英雄生涯的象征。以风云写英雄，气象阔大，笔力雄健：风起云涌是动态的、激荡的，正见英雄崛起于乱世、席卷天下的磅礴气势。且「大风」「云飞扬」皆取象于天，境界高远苍茫，一开篇便将读者带入那风云际会的时代。景语即势语，不着一「雄」字而雄风自见，兴而兼比、景中寓势，为次句「威加海内」作了最有力的铺垫，也奠定了全诗慷慨雄浑的基调。

The first emperor's only poem opens on weather. A great wind rises, and the clouds blow across the sky. The wind and cloud are the chaos of the late Qin that Liu Bang rode to power: the age itself, and his own career, all in the sky. The line is pure atmosphere—no policy, no boast, just the turning world. To have described a storm would be weather; the wind rising with the clouds scattering is the weather of empire.

威加海内兮归故乡

My might covers all within the seas, I return to my homeland. This line expresses the pride of achieving great deeds and returning home in glory, blending imperial authority with nostalgic feeling.

威望遍盖海内啊，重返我的故乡。

My might covers all within the seas; I return now to my home.

次句由写景转入抒怀，写功成业就、衣锦荣归，是英雄一生最得意的一瞬。「威加海内」四字写尽刘邦统一天下的赫赫功业——当年泗水一亭长，如今君临四海、威震八荒，「加」字写出威权覆盖海内的力度与广度，气焰夺人；「归故乡」三字则陡然将帝王拉回人情——沛县是刘邦生长之地，父老故旧皆在，荣归故里、置酒欢会，是英雄人生中最富人情味的一幕。得意与亲切交织：以帝王之尊而重故土之情，威加海内的气魄与游子悲故乡的柔肠并存，「加」与「归」一放一收，豪情与沧桑俱见。此句承首句之势，由风云之景落到帝王之身，气脉贯通；也正因为有了这「得意之极」，末句的「安得猛士」之忧才更显深沉，起承转合之间，雄主的复杂心绪层层展开。

The triumph. My might covers all within the seas; I return now to my home. The first clause is the emperor, the second the man: the ruler of all China, home in Pei drinking with the old villagers. The two halves (might over the seas, home in the village) hold the whole tension of the song. To have said I had conquered the world and came home would be a boast; the might covering the seas set against the return home is the boast.

安得猛士兮守四方！

How can I get brave warriors to guard the four corners! The abrupt turn in the last line shifts from celebration to worry, revealing the emperor's deep concern for the realm's defense and the difficulty of maintaining power.

怎能得到猛士啊，为我守卫四方！

Where shall I get fierce warriors to guard the four quarters?

结句是全诗的灵魂，陡然转折、余味悠长。「安得猛士兮守四方」以慨问作结——怎样才能得到勇猛之士，为我镇守四方疆土？前两句写尽豪迈得意，此句却猛然泼下冷静：天下虽已一统，然异姓诸侯王迭起叛乱（韩信、彭越、英布相继被除），匈奴虎视北疆，而自己暮年多病、来日无多，猛士何在？守业之难，甚于创业！「安得」二字是深沉的慨叹与急切的呼唤，由个人的荣归升到社稷的安危，由眼前的欢宴想到四方的烽烟，豪情之中顿生忧思，帝王之尊亦不能免于焦虑。以问句收束，不答而答，余音袅袅，使这首即兴的短歌超越一时的欢会，具有了深沉的历史感，是「守业难于创业」最经典的帝王叹息。

The question that follows the triumph. Where shall I get fierce warriors to guard the four quarters? The triumph ends not in celebration but in fear: the empire is won, and now how to hold it? The question is the emperor's sleeplessness—the great man's victory already shadowed by the next war. To have said ruling was harder than winning would be a reflection; the unanswered call for fierce guardians of the four quarters is the reflection.

Study

Word focus

大风 Great wind. Both literal and symbolic, representing the turbulent times and the emperor's own majestic spirit; the opening two words immediately unfold a vast temporal and spatial backdrop. 「大风起兮云飞扬」之「大风」，是全诗的起兴之象，也是象征之象。字面上，它写沛地骤起的狂风，是眼前实景；深一层，它是乱世的象征——秦末天下大乱，群雄并起，如大风卷云，刘邦正是这风云际会中崛起的雄主；再深一层，它又是英雄气魄的写照——大风横扫八荒、摧枯拉朽，正见刘邦席卷天下的雄风。一「大」字写风之猛烈、气之磅礴，为全诗定下雄浑的基调。以「大风」起兴，取象阔大而不纤巧，气象苍茫而不局促，正合开国帝王的胸襟。此二字一出，风云激荡的画面如在目前，乱世英雄的豪情喷薄而出，且「大风」自此成为中国诗歌中咏怀言志的经典意象，影响及于后世无数诗人，从曹操到辛弃疾，皆可溯源于此。
威 Might, majesty. A single character sums up Liu Bang's achievements and confidence in unifying the realm, the proud eye of the poem. 「威加海内兮归故乡」之「威」，是全诗最见帝王气象的字。威者，威势、威望也；「威加海内」写刘邦的权威覆盖四海——统一天下、君临万邦，诸侯臣服、百姓归心，「加」字写威的施加与覆盖，力度之强、范围之广，尽在其中。这一个「威」字，是刘邦数十年征战生涯的总结：从沛县起兵到入主关中，从楚汉相争到平定天下，多少腥风血雨，才换来这「威加海内」四字。它写尽开国帝王的功业与自信，是全文得意之眼。然而「威」字之下，也隐着「威」之难继的忧虑——威可以加于海内，却未必能守于后世，于是便有了末句「安得猛士」的叩问。「威」与「安得」首尾呼应，得意与忧思并见，正是英雄暮年的复杂心绪。
安得 How can I get? A sharp shift from the preceding heroism to a heartfelt sigh, expressing the concern for seeking talents to defend the borders, turning the poetic mood from elation to reflection. 「安得猛士兮守四方」之「安得」，是全诗转折的枢纽，也是全诗情感的归宿。「安得」者，怎得、哪里能够得到也，是一个深沉的慨问。前两句写「大风起」「威加海内」，豪情喷薄、得意之极；「安得」二字一出，笔锋猛然一转，由扬入抑——天下虽定，猛士难求，守业之艰，甚于创业！这个慨问有多重意味：一是求贤之切，刘邦深知治国守边非一人之力，急切呼唤猛士；二是忧虑之深，异姓王叛乱、匈奴寇边，而自己暮年病重，身后之事堪忧；三是英雄之孤独，功业愈大，愈觉后继乏人。「安得」以问作结，不答而答，把帝王的焦虑、时代的危机尽收于两字之中，使全诗由豪迈转入苍凉，余味悠长。
猛士 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「安得猛士兮守四方」之「猛士」，是刘邦心中理想臣子的形象，也是全诗求贤主题的核心。「猛」者，勇猛、刚健也；「士」者，有才德之人也；「猛士」即勇武有力、堪当大任的壮士良将。刘邦此时所急需的，是能替他镇守四方、抵御匈奴、弹压叛乱的将帅之才——当年韩信、彭越、英布等猛士皆已不在（或被诛或反叛），他环顾朝野，竟觉无人可用，故以「安得」发问。这一个词，写出开国帝王对人才的渴求，也写出「鸟尽弓藏」之后的人才凋零之痛：打天下时猛士云集，守天下时却猛士难求，这是历史给所有开国者的难题。以「猛士」呼应「四方」，人君之求贤若渴、社稷之安危所系，尽在其中，也为后世留下了「求猛士、守四方」的经典话语。

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观沧海 The Sea 曹操 · 同为英雄所作、气魄宏大的写景抒怀之作 Both are heroic poems with grand imagery; 'The Sea' uses the vast ocean to symbolize ambition, while 'Song of the Great Wind' uses wind and clouds. Compare their magnificent atmospheres.

One is a Han dynasty Chu song by the first emperor, the other a Wei dynasty four-character poem by the warlord Cao Cao; both show the expansive vision of heroic leaders.

刘邦《大风歌》与曹操《观沧海》皆出自雄主之手，皆以阔大的自然意象写英雄襟怀，是帝王诗（霸主诗）的并峙双璧。《大风歌》以「大风起兮云飞扬」写风云激荡，以「安得猛士兮守四方」收束，豪迈中见忧思，是楚歌短章，三句而气象万千；《观沧海》以「日月之行，若出其中；星汉灿烂，若出其里」写沧海吞吐日月之壮，以「幸甚至哉，歌以咏志」作结，是四言长制，通篇而包举宇宙。一写风云、一写沧海，一短促一浑厚，而囊括天地、吞吐八荒的英雄气概如一。二诗相隔三百余年，皆为马上得天下的开国之君（或霸主）即景抒怀之作，合观可见「英雄诗」在中国诗歌史上的源流：刘邦开其端，曹操扬其波。

 满江红·写怀 Man Jiang Hong · Writing My Heart 岳飞 · 同为英雄豪情之作 Both express heroic ambitions and concerns; 'Man Jiang Hong' vents the desire to reclaim lost territories, while 'Song of the Great Wind' expresses the need for loyal warriors. Compare their different historical contexts.

One from the Han dynasty, one from the Song dynasty; one sings of wind and clouds, the other of indignation and loyalty; both reveal the true colors of heroes.

岳飞《满江红·写怀》与刘邦《大风歌》皆为英雄之作，一抒守疆求贤之虑，一抒报国雪耻之志，是不同时代英雄心声的对照。《大风歌》「安得猛士兮守四方」，是开国帝王在天下初定后的求贤之忧——功成而惧守业之难，豪迈中见苍凉；《满江红》「靖康耻，犹未雪，臣子恨，何时灭」，是败亡之际的复国志士在国破后的雪耻之誓——受挫而不改报国之志，悲愤中见刚烈。一为胜者之忧，一为败者之愤；一写求将守成，一写亲赴沙场；时代、处境、体裁皆异（一骚体短歌，一宋词长调），而英雄忧国忧民、以身许国的本色如一。二作并读，可见中国诗歌中一脉相承的英雄精神：无论开国还是复国，无论帝王还是将军，心系社稷、情牵家国的襟怀千古相通。