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宋 Song · 诗 Poem

送内阁蔡公归阙

Seeing Off Minister Cai of the Inner Court on His Return to the Capital

张方平

Zhang Fangping

山水Landscape 田园Pastoral 送别Farewell 咏史Historical Reflection

丰宫周旧宅，梁国汉东关。
尹正司留钥，贤公出近班。
教条推爱利，滋蔓悉除删。
狭野耕桑急，终年狱市闲。
燕申铃阁静，荣养彩衣斑。
治迹经纶外，阴功造化间。
士林归北海，人望在东山。
一节遄趋召，西辕不可攀。
前旌霜树晓，候骑古河湾。
和气均生物，淳风复海寰。
具瞻知可副，盛德致无艰。
他日开𬬻冶，余功为铸颜。

Feng Palace, the old seat of Zhou;
Liang State, the eastern pass of Han.
The Prefect holds the keys of the capital's keep;
Worthy Lord Cai steps from the inner ranks near the throne.
His ordinances promote love and benefit,
And rank growths of corruption are all rooted out.
In the narrow fields, plowing and mulberry are urged;
Through the year, jail and market alike stand idle.
In leisure he rests in the quiet bell-tower hall;
In filial glory, his colored robes shimmer with gray.
His governance shines beyond statecraft;
His hidden virtue moves within creation's turn.
The scholar grove returns to the North Sea;
The people's hope rests on the Eastern Mountain.
One tally summons him in swift haste;
The westward carriage-shaft cannot be held back.
The forward banners meet frost-covered trees at dawn;
The outriders wait by the ancient river bend.
His harmony nurtures all living things;
His simple customs restore the seas within.
All eyes behold him and know he will fulfill;
Great virtue brings no difficulty to achieve.
In days to come, when the furnace is opened,
His surplus skill will cast a Yan Hui.

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Meaning

This is a formal farewell poem celebrating Minister Cai's return to the capital. Zhang Fangping praises Cai's virtuous governance in the provinces, his filial piety, his wide reputation among scholars, and his great moral influence, expressing confidence that he will serve the court admirably.

丰宫是周代旧都的宫室，梁国是汉代东边的关隘。尹正执掌留钥之职，贤明的蔡公出自近臣班列。他推行的教令以爱民利民为先，滋生的弊政一一删除。狭促的原野上农桑急务得以兴办，终年监狱与市场都清闲安宁。公余燕居在铃阁中恬静自适，荣养双亲穿彩衣而斑白生辉。他的治迹在经纶大事之外，阴德在造化之间。士林归向他如北海之广，人望所寄如在东山。一纸符节疾驰应召，向西的车辕不可攀留。前旌映着霜树破晓，候骑停在古河湾边。和气均布万物生长，淳厚风俗复归海内。众人所瞻望知可胜任，盛德所致并无艰难。他日如开炉冶，余功足以为我辈铸颜。

Appreciation

The poem opens with geographical allusions to Zhou and Han capitals, suggesting the cultural depth of Cai's jurisdiction. The middle couplets use parallel structure to detail his benevolent policies, the flourishing of agriculture, and the peace of the courtroom and marketplace. Later couplets employ allusions to Kong Rong and Xie An to portray Cai's charisma and high expectations. The concluding lines express a humble hope that Cai, like a master smith, will help mold younger talents.

【白话串讲】张方平送蔡公回京：“丰宫周旧宅，梁国汉东关”。“教条推爱利，滋蔓悉除删”——他赞蔡公治政清明。“治迹经纶外，阴功造化间”——他写蔡公的功绩。【意象与手法】诗以「丰宫」「梁国」地望起兴，借周汉故都暗喻蔡公治邦文教渊薮。中幅以对仗铺陈政事：「教条推爱利」言教令宽简，「滋蔓悉除删」言去弊，「狭野耕桑急」与「终年狱市闲」正反相生写出治效。又用「燕申铃阁静，荣养彩衣斑」由公入私、刚柔互济，意象在庙堂与家庭间流转。【情感与主旨】全诗以颂为体，而颂中见体。既称美蔡公留任地方的惠政与雅望，又于「一节遄趋召」转捩入归阙之送，末以「铸颜」自谦期许。主旨不在离愁，而在士大夫相重的诚恳，以及清静无为而济以儒术的政见寄托。【名句点睛】「士林归北海，人望在东山」一联最见斤两，以孔融、谢安二典拟其能得士心与负廊庙之望，虚实相生，把一位地方官写到将相气象，是排律中最见身份的对句。

Background

Zhang Fangping (1007–1091), courtesy name Daoji, was a prominent Northern Song official and writer. He served three emperors, was known for his outspoken remonstrance, and opposed Wang Anshi's reforms. This poem was written to see off a high-ranking official, referred to as 'Cabinet Minister Cai,' who was being recalled to the court. In the Song dynasty, such long regulated verses were commonly exchanged among scholar-officials on state occasions, blending praise, admonition, and personal respect.

张方平（一零零七至一零九一），字道济，号乐全居士，应天宋城人，北宋名臣、文学家，谥文定。仁宗景祐元年中进士，历知昆山县，入朝为右正言，以敢言时弊著称。英宗时拜参知政事，神宗朝官至宰相，与王安石政见不合，力诋新法，退居南京。其文光明磊落，诗多应制、唱和、送赠之作，风格典重温厚，不尚奇险。《送内阁蔡公归阙》当作于一位执政近臣自地方应召还朝之际。题中内阁蔡公，约为奉诏归阙的宰执重臣，张方平以排律送行，既铺叙其留任地方的治绩，又寄以朝堂相期之意。宋承唐制，每逢重臣迁转，僚友多以长律赠行，极写功业、称美德望，此诗正沿其体。了解张方平历仕三朝、以直谏立身的生平，方能体会诗中颂美之下那一分士大夫相重的诚恳，而非泛泛谀词。题中「内阁」一词尚须辨明：宋代并无称「内阁」的正式官署，此当是泛称蔡公尝供职于馆阁或翰林学士院，以其清要近臣之身份为「内阁」；「归阙」即还朝、归赴朝廷，与「赴阙」「还阙」同义，指由外任或闲居奉诏返京。考张方平交游，其于庆历、皇祐、至和、嘉祐间屡历馆职与台谏，所与唱酬者多馆阁名流，此蔡公当亦厕身其间。宋制馆阁储才，号为宰执渊薮，士人一经馆职，便入清华之途，故凡送人归阙者，例以台辅相期，此诗末以「铸颜」相许，正合当日馆阁送行的通例。又，北宋排律赠行，自杨亿、刘筠西昆酬唱以来，渐成一种以学问、典故、对仗相高的社交文体，方平此作典重而不繁缛，温厚而不空疏，在馆阁赠答中自成一格。明乎此，方知「士林归北海，人望在东山」的期许，既是私谊之诚，亦是当日馆阁公论之所寄，绝非泛泛谀词。

Art

The poem is a five-character extended regulated verse (pailü) of twelve couplets with a single rhyme. Its structure moves through four movements: geographical and official context, governance and filial virtue, reputation and the summons, and finally the blessing for the future. Parallel couplets are meticulously crafted, balancing public and private imagery, stillness and motion. The language is dignified and measured, characteristic of Song dynasty literati poetry, avoiding both ornate excess and stark plainness.

此诗为五言排律，十二联一韵到底，章法极见经营。起首以「丰宫周旧宅，梁国汉东关」对地望，借周汉故都之典暗喻蔡公所治之地衣冠相望、形胜旧邦，起笔便有气象。中段「教条推爱利，滋蔓悉除删」「狭野耕桑急，终年狱市闲」数联，以对仗铺陈政事：前者言教令宽简、除弊安民，后者言农桑兴而狱市静，正反相生，写出治效之实。又用「燕申铃阁静，荣养彩衣斑」由公而私，由政而亲，刚柔互济。后半「士林归北海，人望在东山」以孔融、谢安二典拟其雅望，「一节遄趋召，西辕不可攀」转捩入送别，「前旌霜树晓，候骑古河湾」以景结情，霜树候骑点缀离筵。通篇以颂为体，却以叙事层次与景物点染避免平板，是宋人送行排律的典型笔法。细究其结构，十二联恰可析为四层：起二联点地望、叙职守，如史家立传先叙里贯官阶；中四联「教条」至「荣养」，由政及人、由公及私，写治效与孝养；再四联「士林」至「候骑」，由誉望及于召命，从静穆的政声转入离别的动势；末二联「和气」至「铸颜」，复由别情升华为对治化的期许，收得庄重。此四层一递一深，如登堂入室。其对仗尤有可观者，如「燕申铃阁静」对「荣养彩衣斑」，一静一斑、一官居一亲养，以「静」「斑」二字作活，意象在庙堂与家庭间流转；又如「前旌霜树晓」对「候骑古河湾」，以霜、树、河、湾四物点染离筵，冷色之中见离情之淡远。方平更长于以虚字斡旋气脉，如「几为」「须凭」的婉转、「一节」「未宜」的顿挫，使通篇颂体不失温润。此等经营，非率尔酬应者所能为。

Allusions

Several allusions enrich the poem: 'colored robes' refers to Lao Laizi's filial piety; 'North Sea' alludes to Kong Rong, known for attracting scholars; 'Eastern Mountain' evokes Xie An, who retired there before becoming prime minister; 'casting Yan' comes from Yang Xiong's Fayan, meaning to cultivate talent like a smith casting metal. The phrase 'jail and market' subtly echoes Cao Can's policy of non-interference, reflecting Zhang Fangping's advocacy of quiet governance.

诗中用典凡数处，须逐条辨明。其一，「彩衣斑」用老莱子彩衣娱亲之典，见《列女传》，言蔡公荣养双亲、孝德兼隆，以私德补政事之叙。其二，「北海」指孔融，融曾为北海相，好士爱人，士林归之，此处喻蔡公雅量能得士心。其三，「东山」用谢安之典，安隐居东山，后出为宰辅，此处暗示蔡公此去归阙，正类谢安之起，寄托朝野之望。其四，「铸颜」本扬雄《法言》「颜渊亦潜心于仲尼」，后人以「铸颜」喻培养贤才、成就后学，末联「他日开𬬻冶，余功为铸颜」言他日蔡公当如良冶，以余力成就士类，是自谦亦颂人之辞。诸典皆切送归阙、美治绩、期来兹三层意思，非徒炫博。此外尚有数处语典，虽不似人名之显，却同样有据。开篇「丰宫周旧宅」，丰为周文王所都、武王迁镐，故称旧宅，以周室发祥之地喻蔡公治所渊源之厚；「梁国汉东关」，梁指汉梁孝王封国，地当要冲，二句并举周汉，暗以盛世旧邦衬蔡公所临之邦文教之盛。「尹正司留钥」用「留钥」一词，唐代东都置留守、掌宫钥守备，以喻蔡公独当方面之任，一字见其职重。「燕申铃阁静」之「铃阁」，为汉代官府设铃传呼的厅阁，后泛指官署，此处写蔡公公余宴居、官衙清闲，正承「狱市闲」而来；而「狱市」实出曹参相齐「狱市勿扰」之语，方平暗用，以见蔡公清静无为的治术。末段「西辕」「前旌」「候骑」皆行旅仪仗之词，铺写归阙途次之盛，与「一节遄趋召」的急促相呼应。合观前文所列孔融、谢安、老莱子、扬雄诸典，可知方平使事不拘一格：有名物、有职官、有仪制、有人物，皆各安其位，层层烘托颂美之旨，故读来不觉堆砌。

Commentary

Zhang Fangping's poetry is not widely celebrated, but this piece shows his characteristic warmth and dignity. Unlike the ornate Xikun style or the austere Jiangxi style, this poem is clear and substantial. It reveals Zhang's political philosophy of non-interference tempered by Confucian virtue, and his role as a mentor to younger talents. The poem stands as a fine example of Northern Song court literary culture.

张方平诗在宋代不甚显，然《乐全集》中所存送赠诸作，最可见其待人接物之笃。此诗与同集《送吴春卿赴都》《送石曼卿赴阙》同一机杼，皆以排律铺叙友朋功业，而语气从容，不似西昆之繁缛，亦不似江西之瘦硬。清四库馆臣评其文「明白洞达」，移评其诗亦当。与杜甫《奉济驿重送严公四韵》相较，杜诗沈郁、重在别情，张诗温厚、重在称美，二人地位处境不同，体亦随之。又诗中「狱市闲」一语，实承汉相曹参「狱市勿扰」之政术，可见方平论政本黄老清静而济以儒术，与其反对新法、主安静之说一以贯之。读此诗当知其颂中见体，非谀。再深一层看，此诗的「颂」字后头，实藏着张方平一贯的政见。他论政主清静无为而济以儒术，反对新法之扰民，此诗「教条推爱利，滋蔓悉除删」「终年狱市闲」诸句，正是其政治理想的诗化表达；而「铸颜」一语，又可见其以奖掖后进、成就人才自任的器度。故读此诗，非徒见蔡公一人，亦见张方平其人。就诗史位置言，宋初台阁诗风承晚唐五代之绮靡，至仁宗朝，欧阳修、梅尧臣力矫其弊，张方平此等送行排律，虽仍守台阁赠答之体，却已汰去浮艳，代之以典重笃实，正可视为宋诗由西昆旧体向平实新格过渡的一个样本。清四库馆臣于《乐全集》提要中称其「文章尔雅，有古作者之风」，移以评此诗亦当：所谓「尔雅」，正在其颂而不谀、典而不靡，能以士大夫相重之诚，托之于排律的庄重体格之中。此诗虽非千古名篇，然欲考察北宋馆阁文学与士大夫交游之实态，则不可不读。

Prosody

Form Five-character Extended Regulated Verse (Pailü)五言排律

Rhyme One rhyme throughout, using the Shanjun rhyme category (deleting the shan rhyme group), with rhyme words: guān, bān, shān, xián, bān, jiān, shān, pān, wān, huán, jiān, yán.通押平声删韵、山韵（平水韵删山同用），入韵字为关、班、删、闲、斑、间、山、攀、湾、寰、艰、颜，一韵到底，无换韵，契合排律体制。

Tone pattern Follows regulated verse tonal patterns, with strict parallelism in the middle and later couplets, contrasting level and oblique tones.五言排律依律调平仄，中二联及颈联、腹联讲究对仗工稳，如「教条推爱利」对「滋蔓悉除删」、「狭野耕桑急」对「终年狱市闲」，平仄相对、词性相侔。

Reading note The choice of open, resonant rhyme words suits the solemn and laudatory tone. The poem maintains a smooth, unhurried rhythm over its twelve couplets, with each couplet advancing the narrative, creating a dignified and respectful mood.此诗既为排律，音韵之长处在绵密匀整而不迫促。十二联皆押平声删山韵，删韵开口呼、山韵亦开口，音色清亮而舒徐，正宜铺叙颂美、从容道来，若用敛急之入声便失其体。首联点地望，中幅连写政迹、燕居、人望，段段用对，偶句收韵，读来如连珠贯玉，气脉不断。宋人排律每病于冗沓，方平此作则每段有主：二联叙职，三联叙政，四联叙野，五联叙私，六联叙德，七联叙望，八联叙召，九联叙景，十联叙化，十一联叙副，十二联叙期，层次井然。其用韵不杂他部，亦见谨严，非率尔酬应之作可比。欲体会宋调排律之正，此篇可为一例。再就韵脚字看，删山二韵的入韵字「关、班、删、闲、斑、间、山、攀、湾、寰、艰、颜」，多属开口洪音，且「山」「湾」「寰」等字自带开阔之势，与送归阙、铺治绩的庄重颂美相称，读来如击磬鸣钟，余响不绝。此一韵之选，亦见方平于酬应之作中仍不失音律之审。

Line by line

丰宫周旧宅，梁国汉东关。

Feng Palace was the ancient capital of Zhou; Liang State was the eastern barrier of Han, indicating the region's historic significance.

点出蔡公治所乃周汉故都形胜之地

The Feng palace, old house of Zhou; the Liang realm, eastern pass of Han.

此开篇一联以地名起兴，看似平平叙事，实有深意。丰宫为周之旧都，梁国乃汉之东藩，张方平举两地者，非徒志里贯，而是借周汉盛世之故墟，暗示蔡公所临之邦文教渊薮、衣冠所萃。宋人送行诗每好以地望立格，此联即以对仗的地名对领起全篇，下联「尹正司留钥，贤公出近班」方转入人物。尤为可味者，以「旧宅」「东关」二字收束，既写出城阙之雄，又暗含「古来胜地多贤守」的期待，为后文颂其治绩先布一厚重背景，是排律起手绵里藏针之法。

This opening couplet rises on place-names, seeming plain narrative, really deep meaning. The Feng palace was Zhou's old capital; the Liang realm was Han's eastern fief. Fangping names the two not merely to note the native place, but to use the old ruins of the Zhou and Han golden ages to hint that the realm Cai governs is a wellspring of culture and the gathering place of scholars. Song farewell poems often set their frame through geographic standing; this couplet leads with paired place-names, and the next, the prefect guards the key and the worthy lord comes from the near ranks, then turns to the man. What is most to taste is the close on old house and eastern pass: they write the grandeur of the walls and gates, and secretly hold the expectation that a fair land always has a fair governor, laying a weighty background for the later praise of his rule - the close-woven opening of the regulated verse, soft on the surface, pointed within.

士林归北海，人望在东山。

The scholar community turns to him as to Kong Rong (North Sea); the people's hopes rest on him as on Xie An (Eastern Mountain).

言士人归心如向孔北海，众望所寄犹如谢东山

The scholars turn to him as to the North Sea; the people's hope rests in the Eastern Mountain.

此联是全诗筋节，以两个重量级典故为蔡公写像。北海指孔融，融为北海相，座客常满，天下士归之如流水；东山指谢安，安高卧东山，朝野望其复出。张方平方平以二人拟蔡公，一取其能得士林之归，一取其负廊庙之望，双重叠加，分量极重。妙在「归」与「在」二动词一虚一实：士林之归是已然的向心力，人望之在是未然的期待感，虚实相生，遂把一位地方官的声望写到将相气象。排律中此类对联最见身份，若泛用寻常颂语便落肤浅，方平用典恰如其分，正见老臣识人之处。

This couplet is the sinew of the poem, portraying Lord Cai through two weighty allusions. The North Sea refers to Kong Rong, who as chancellor of Beihai kept his hall full of guests and the scholars of the realm turned to him like flowing water; the Eastern Mountain refers to Xie An, who lay high on the Eastern Mountain while court and country hoped for his return. Fangping matches Lord Cai with the two: one drawing the scholars' return, the other carrying the court's expectation, doubled and weighted. The beauty lies in the two verbs turn and rest, one void one solid: the scholars' return is a centripetal force already real, the people's hope resting in him is an expectation not yet fulfilled; void and solid feed each other, and the reputation of a local official is raised to the air of a general or minister. In regulated verse such a couplet best shows standing; common praise would fall shallow. Fangping's allusions fit to the hair, showing the old minister's eye for men.

Study

Word focus

闲 A key expression in this poem; read it with the Chinese note below. 「终年狱市闲」之「闲」字，是全诗最耐寻味的一字。狱市二字本出曹参相齐、嘱后相「狱市勿扰」之故事，泛指刑狱与市井诉讼，最易生事扰民。方平著一「闲」字，写蔡公为政清简，不滥兴狱讼、不苛察细故，故一年到头监狱与市场都清静无哗。此「闲」非懒散之闲，而是「无事」之闲，是治效极境，与「狭野耕桑急」之「急」字正成对照：农事当急而狱市宜闲，一张一弛，乃黄老清净而济儒术之政。一字之间，既状地方之安，亦见诗人论政之眼，非泛设形容词可及。

归 A key expression in this poem; read it with the Chinese note below. 「士林归北海」之「归」字，是用典中提炼出的诗眼。北海喻孔融，融之得士，史载「郡守公孙瓒素相轻慢，融独敬礼太史慈」等，皆见其能聚人。方平不曰「慕」不曰「向」，而独取「归」字，盖「归」有众流奔赴、如水归壑之意，比「慕」更见主动与笃实。士林之归，非一二文人之私好，而是整个清流群体的向心，分量远胜寻常称美。且与末段「人望在东山」之「在」呼应，一归一在，写出蔡公在朝在野皆得人心。此字炼得稳，正因它从典故中自然脱出，不假雕饰而身份自显。