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明 Ming · 诗 Poem

古意

An Ancient Mood

袁宏道

Yuan Hongdao

拟古archaic imitation 言志declaring ambition 公安派Gong'an school

爱妾换马，烈士报恩。
男儿重意气，何必相温存。
白马饰金羁，横行起黄尘。
十年仗孤剑，万里报明君。
事去名已立，身危道逾尊。
岂学儿女曹，低眉事氤氲。

Trade a beloved concubine for a horse—a brave man repays kindness.
A man prizes honor; why be tender and clinging?
White horse with golden bridle, he ranges free and stirs the yellow dust.
Ten years on a single sword, ten thousand li to repay the bright lord.
The deed is past yet his name stands; the body in peril, the way more honored.
How could he learn from the children's sort, bowing low to serve the mist?

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Meaning

In the manner of Han-Wei yuefu, the poem declares a man's independence: he prizes honor over tenderness, serves his lord with a lone sword, and scorns bowing to power—a statement of self-respecting integrity.

以爱妾换取良马，是烈士知恩图报的壮举。男儿看重的是意气，何必要彼此温存缠绵。白马配上黄金的马络头，纵横驰骋扬起黄尘。十年仗着一把孤剑，走万里路报答明主。功业虽去而名声已立，身虽危险而道义更尊。怎肯学那儿女之辈，低眉顺目去逢迎权幸。

Appreciation

The poem opens with the old yuefu-like broken lines: trade concubine for horse, a brave man repays kindness, setting that a man prizes honor and needs no tenderness. Then it writes the white horse and golden bridle, ranging free in yellow dust, the lone sword for ten thousand li to repay the bright lord—a wanderer's spirit; the deed past yet name stands, body peril yet way honored, an uncommon insight; it closes with 'how learn from the children's sort, bowing low to serve the mist,' asserting the independent stature of a true man. The whole uses yuefu's sturdy lines, mixing three-, five-, and seven-character lengths, with bone and spirit lofty. It writes the wandering knight through the white horse and golden bridle, sets off with the children's sort—firm, bright, quick; a rare stirring work among the Gong'an school's 'expressing the natural spirit.'

【白话串讲】 “爱妾换马，烈士报恩”——袁宏道写古意：“男儿重意气，何必相温存”——男儿重意气。“十年仗孤剑，万里报明君”——“岂学儿女曹，低眉事氤氲”——他不学儿女情长。【意象与手法】全用乐府健句，三、五、七言错落，气骨遒上。以白马金羁的典型意象写游侠，以儿女曹反衬，刚直明快，是公安派'独抒性灵'中少见的慷慨之作。【情感与主旨】抒发男儿重意气、轻温存、报国任侠的独立怀抱，亦暗含对当时士人低头事权贵之风的鄙薄。袁宏道多以小品写性灵，此诗却见其豪宕一面。【名句点睛】男儿重意气，何必相温存——斩钉截铁，立一篇之骨，最见其不肯随俗的性灵本色。

Background

Yuan Hongdao was the leading figure of the Ming Gong'an school, advocating 'express the natural spirit, free of fixed forms.' This 'Ancient Mood' imitates Han-Wei yuefu to write the martial air in his breast; not necessarily a real event, it borrows the old topic to voice an independent self that will not bow to men.

袁宏道的《古意》是一首拟古言志之作，充分体现了公安派「独抒性灵，不拘格套」的主张与诗人豪迈任侠的一面。袁宏道为明代万历年间文学家，与兄宗道、弟中道并称三袁，是公安派的代表人物，其诗文多写闲适小品、山水游记，主张打破前后七子复古摹拟的枷锁，直写胸中性情。然而《古意》却一反其常见的清浅闲适，以古乐府式的健句写男儿报国之志与独立之格，气骨遒上。诗以「爱妾换马」的任侠古事起兴，标举意气、鄙薄温存，正是对当时士人低头事权贵、柔媚取容风气的反拨。明代中后期党争剧烈、士风萎靡，袁宏道借古意抒写不肯随俗的丈夫怀抱，既见其性灵本色中的豪宕，也折射出对浊世的不屑与自守。袁宏道为明代万历文学家，与兄宗道、弟中道并称三袁，是公安派代表，主张独抒性灵，不拘格套。此诗却一反其清浅闲适的小品面目，以古乐府健句写男儿报国之志与独立之格，气骨遒上。明中后期党争剧烈、士风萎靡，诗人借古意抒不肯随俗的丈夫怀抱，亦含对浊世的不屑。

Art

It mixes three, five, and seven characters, like a yuefu song yet more sheer and straight; it makes argument into poetry, opening and closing with force—different from his idle essays, showing the natural spirit can also be bold.

《古意》的艺术特色在于以乐府健句写任侠之气，三、五、七言错落，节奏顿挫而气脉奔涌。开篇「爱妾换马，烈士报恩」以四字断句起唱，如鼓如钲，先声夺人；继而「男儿重意气，何必相温存」以斩钉截铁的口吻立一篇之骨。中段「白马饰金羁，横行起黄尘」「十年仗孤剑，万里报明君」以典型的游侠意象与工稳的对仗铺写豪情，画面感极强；「事去名已立，身危道逾尊」转进一层，写出功名身危而道义愈尊的见识。末以「岂学儿女曹，低眉事氤氲」作结，以儿女曹反衬丈夫格，刚直明快。全诗不用典丽之辞，纯以气胜，是公安派少见的慷慨之作，亦可见拟古一体在性灵手中的新变。开篇爱妾换马、烈士报恩以四字断句起唱，如鼓如钲；男儿重意气斩钉截铁立骨。中段白马孤剑、十年万里以游侠意象与工稳对仗铺写豪情；事去名立、身危道尊转进一层。末以岂学儿女曹作结，刚直明快。三五六七言错落，纯以气胜，是公安派少见的慷慨之作。

Allusions

Trade concubine for horse: an old yuefu topic, writing valuing righteousness over beauty. Golden bridle: a golden horse halter. Mist (yinyun): here means clinging compliance, also the rising of vapor.

诗中「爱妾换马」用南朝任侠之典，事见《异苑》等书，谓有人以爱妾换得良马以报知己，后世诗词常以之写烈士重义轻色的壮举，如张祜有《爱妾换马》诗。袁宏道拈此起兴，意在标举「烈士报恩」的意气，与温存缠绵的儿女之情对举。「白马饰金羁」化用曹植《白马篇》「白马饰金羁，连翩西北驰」的游侠意象，曹诗写幽并游侠之报国，袁诗承其骨力而用于言志。「低眉事氤氲」中氤氲本指天地阴阳之气或烟气弥漫，此处引申为阿附权幸、柔媚取容之态，与「男儿重意气」形成尖锐对立。诗人调动这些典故与传统意象，使一篇短制获得深厚的任侠文化积淀，古意二字正点明其托古抒怀的用意。爱妾换马用南朝任侠典，谓以爱妾换良马以报知己，张祜有爱妾换马诗；白马饰金羁化用曹植白马篇游侠意象；低眉事氤氲中氤氲本指阴阳之气或烟气，此处引申为阿附权幸、柔媚取容之态。诗人调动这些典故，使短制获深厚任侠文化积淀，古意二字点明托古抒怀。

Commentary

Zhonglang's poems are mostly clear and handsome; this alone is stirring—showing the natural spirit is not always idle but can also stand tall. With his brothers Xiaoxiu and Boxiu he is called the Three Yuans.

《古意》在袁宏道集中别具一格，历来论者多注意到它与其清浅性灵小品的不同面目。这首诗的价值，在于以古乐府的健朗之笔，写出了明代士人难得的丈夫气与独立格。它既不似前后七子的艰深摹古，也不似晚明小品的纤巧闲适，而是直抒胸臆、以气驭辞。诗中「男儿重意气，何必相温存」一句，堪称性灵本色中最见风骨的宣言；「事去名已立，身危道逾尊」更透出对道义价值的坚定信仰。放在晚明士风萎靡、奔竞成风的历史语境中读，此诗便不仅是个人的豪情抒发，更含着对浊世的清醒拒绝。它提醒我们，公安派的性灵并非只有闲适一面，亦可有如此慷慨任气的阳刚之声。古意在袁宏道集中别具一格，论者多注意到它与其性灵小品的不同面目。其价值在以古乐府健朗之笔写出明代士人难得的丈夫气与独立格，既不似前后七子艰深摹古，也不似晚明小品纤巧闲适，而是直抒胸臆、以气驭辞，提醒我们公安派性灵亦有如此慷慨任气的一面。

Prosody

Form Mixed-length ancient-style poem乐府体（杂言古诗）

Rhyme Rhyme category not specified in the source; follows the ancient-style convention.元真文邻韵通押（恩、存、尊属元韵，尘属真韵，君、氲属文韵）

Tone pattern Not bound by regulated rules.杂言，平仄不拘，三、四、五、七言错落，不尚对仗之严

Reading note A five-character ancient poem that opens with a bold deed and closes with the stature of a true man; between, the white horse and lone sword spread the wanderer's spirit—sturdy words, lofty breath, Zhonglang's ancient mood of expressing the natural spirit.《古意》并非近体律绝，而属拟古乐府一类的杂言古诗，故其声律不受近体诗平仄粘对之拘，而以气脉与节奏取胜。句式上三言（爱妾换马、烈士报恩）、五言（男儿重意气、白马饰金羁、十年仗孤剑、事去名已立、岂学儿女曹）、七言（何必相温存、横行起黄尘、万里报明君、身危道逾尊、低眉事氤氲）错落相间，长短顿挫，颇得汉魏乐府与鲍照杂言的健朗之风。用韵方面，全诗以元、真、文三韵部邻韵通押：恩、存、尊属上平十三元，尘属上平十一真，君、氲属上平十二文，在古诗中本可相通，读来声气贯通而无滞涩。袁宏道刻意以古体写豪情，正是不满近体纤巧、欲以乐府气骨抒性灵的体现，故此诗的「不合律」恰是其艺术自觉的结果。

Line by line

男儿重意气，何必相温存。

A man prizes honor; why be tender and clinging?

男儿看重的是意气，何必要彼此温存缠绵。

A man prizes honor and spirit; why this clinging caress?

「男儿重意气，何必相温存」是全诗的立骨之句，斩钉截铁，最见袁宏道不肯随俗的性灵本色。意气二字，在此指男儿重然诺、轻生死、尚节义的丈夫怀抱，与温存所代表的儿女缠绵、柔媚取容形成尖锐对立。何必一问，以反诘语气强化了弃柔就刚的价值抉择，使诗句获得不容商量的力量。袁宏道多以闲适小品写性灵，此句却以健朗之笔标举刚直，正可见其性情中豪迈任侠的一面。在晚明士人奔竞权门、柔曲取容的风气中，这两句无异于一记清醒的宣言，既抒个人怀抱，亦含对世风的鄙薄与自守，是全篇精神所系。

The man. A man prizes honor and spirit; why this clinging caress? The manly honor against the womanly caress is the opening declaration. To have declared manly virtue would be a declaration; the man-prizes-honor-and-spirit against the why-this-clinging-caress is the declaration.

十年仗孤剑，万里报明君。

Ten years on a single sword, ten thousand li to repay the bright lord.

十年仗着一把孤剑，走万里路报答明主。

Ten years with a lonely sword; ten thousand li to repay a wise lord.

「十年仗孤剑，万里报明君」以精练的对仗写出游侠报国之志的漫长与壮阔。十年对万里，以时间之久而空间之广，极写仗剑行游、矢志报主的艰辛与执着；孤剑二字尤佳，既写侠客形单影只、仗剑独行的实况，也暗喻士人守道独立、不附权贵的孤高。报明君则点明其志之所向在报国而非营私。此句承曹植《白马篇》游侠传统而来，却以更简净的语言收束豪情，画面中一剑一人、万里风尘，极具感染力。它把前面「重意气」的抽象宣言落到具体的侠行之上，使全诗由议论转入形象，气骨遒上而情韵悠长。

The sword. Ten years with a lonely sword; ten thousand li to repay a wise lord. The ten years and ten thousand li of the lone sword are the knight's service. To have described the ten-year sword service would be a summary; the ten-years-with-a-lonely-sword against the ten-thousand-li-to-repay-a-wise-lord is the summary.

岂学儿女曹，低眉事氤氲。

How could he learn from the children's sort, bowing low to serve the mist?

怎肯学那儿女之辈，低眉顺目去逢迎权幸。

Would I mimic that crowd of women, bowing the brows to flutter in the smoke?

「岂学儿女曹，低眉事氤氲」是全诗的收束与最强音。儿女曹指那些柔媚取容、低头事人的世俗之辈，低眉写其卑屈之态，氤氲本指烟气弥漫或阴阳之气，此处引申为阿附权幸、随俗浮沉的污浊世态。岂学一反诘，把前面所标举的丈夫意气推向决绝的顶点：宁守孤直，绝不低头。袁宏道以此作结，既完成了个人独立人格的塑形，也含蓄地鞭挞了当时士林奔竞权门的风气。这两句与开篇「何必相温存」遥相呼应，首尾一贯，使全诗在刚直明快中收束，余气凛然，是晚明诗中难得的风骨之作。

The refusal. Would I mimic that crowd of women, bowing the brows to flutter in the smoke? The rhetorical refusal to mimic the bowing crowd is the close. To have refused the worldly crowd would be a refusal; the would-I-mimic-that-crowd-of-women-bowing-the-brows-to-flutter-in-the-smoke is the refusal.

Study

Word focus

意气 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「意气」是贯穿《古意》全篇的核心词，也是诗人立骨之所。在古典语境中，意气本指心意与气概，常用来写任侠重诺、慷慨不平之气（如「意气扬扬」「意气风发」）。袁宏道此处以「男儿重意气」将其提升为丈夫立身的根本价值，与温存、儿女曹、低眉事氤氲等柔媚取容之态构成根本对立。这个词的选择，使全诗获得了刚阳的基调与独立的品格。它不尚辞采，却分量极重，统摄着后面白马孤剑、十年万里、身危道尊等一系列壮语。可以说，读懂了意气二字，便读懂了此诗不肯随俗、独守性灵的魂魄所在，是解读袁宏道这一豪宕面目的钥匙。

孤剑 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「十年仗孤剑」中的「孤剑」意象，凝练而富张力，是全诗最具画面感与象征意味的词语。剑在古典诗词中本就是侠客、志士、孤直文人的典型物象（如「仗剑去国」「剑气箫心」），而冠以一个孤字，更写出侠客形单影只、独行万里之状，也暗喻士人守道独立、不附权贵的孤高品格。孤既写实（一人一剑），更写神（孤直不群），与篇末「低眉事氤氲」的群体性卑屈形成鲜明反差。十年仗孤剑以时间之久烘托坚守之难，使孤剑成为诗人自我形象的投射。这一个词，把任侠的豪情与文人的孤洁熔于一炉，举重若轻，是全诗炼字的最胜处之一。

古意