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唐 Tang · 诗 Poem

汴河怀古

On the Past at the Bian River

皮日休

Pi Rixiu

尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波。
若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多。

All say the Sui fell because of this river,
Yet to this day a thousand li depend on its flowing waves.
Had there been no water-palaces and dragon-boats affair,
He might rival Yu himself in merit—scarcely less.
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Meaning

Pi Rixiu overturns the cliché that the Grand Canal caused the Sui dynasty's fall. He argues the canal still sustains a thousand li of transport, and that but for Emperor Yang's profligate dragon-boat tours, the emperor might be ranked alongside Yu the Great as a civilizer.

尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波。若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多。

Appreciation

[Plain Paraphrase] Everyone blames this canal for the Sui's ruin, but a thousand li of commerce still ride its waters today. If only Emperor Yang had not squandered his reign on floating palaces and dragon-boats, his achievement might stand beside Yu the Great's taming of the floods—no less. [Structure] A two-couplet quatrain: the first states the paradox (blame versus benefit); the second offers the counterfactual that reframes the emperor's legacy. [Argument] The poem's force is its revisionist judgement: it separates the canal's objective utility from the ruler's personal excess, a rare pragmatic history. [Tone] Witty, measured, faintly ironic—characteristic of Pi Rixiu's topical, essayistic verse.

【白话串讲】 皮日休写《汴河怀古》：“尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波”——“若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多”——他写汴河与隋炀帝——共禹论功不较多。 【意象与手法】 “尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波”写隋亡与汴河之利；“若无水殿龙舟事”假设无水殿龙舟；结以“共禹论功不较多”以大禹论功写汴河之利。咏史翻案、慷慨明快。 【情感与主旨】 皮日休写咏史怀古之作，一反“隋亡为此河”的旧说，指出汴河千里通波之利，认为若无炀帝龙舟游幸之奢，其功可与大禹相比，是咏史诗中翻案立论的名篇。 【名句点睛】 常考“尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波”写汴河之利；“若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多”以大禹论功写翻案。

Background

Pi Rixiu (c. 834–c. 883), late-Tang poet and prose writer of the 'Han Yu revival' lineage, known for sharp, socially critical and historically reflective poems. The Bian River was the southern arm of the Sui Grand Canal linking the Yellow and Huai systems. Emperor Yang of Sui (r. 604–618) built the canal at immense cost, and his lavish dragon-boat tours became a byword for tyranny leading to the dynasty's collapse. Pi's quatrain is a deliberately contrarian reassessment.

《汴河怀古》为晚唐诗人皮日休所作诗。皮日休（约838—约883），字袭美，一字逸少，襄阳（今湖北襄阳）人，晚唐诗人。此诗写咏史怀古，为汴河怀古之作。诗中「尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波」写尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波；「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」写若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多。皮日休此诗以咏史怀古、共禹论功不较多写其怀古之情，慷慨明快，是皮日休诗中的名篇。此篇《汴河怀古》在历代选本中多被收录，其艺术价值与流传之广，正可见此诗在同类题材中的重要地位。诗人以匠心独运之笔写寻常之情事，遂使此作历千载而犹有生气，为后人所称赏不绝。此篇《汴河怀古》在历代选本中多被收录，其艺术价值与流传之广，正可见此诗在同类题材中的重要地位。诗人以匠心独运之笔写寻常之情事，遂使此作历千载而犹有生气，为后人所称赏不绝。

Art

The poem's craft is its compressed argumentative reversals. The first line states the popular verdict ('all say the Sui fell for this river') and the second immediately contradicts it with present benefit ('a thousand li still depend on its waves')—a thesis/antithesis in two lines. The second couplet introduces a counterfactual ('had there been no water-palaces and dragon-boats affair') that isolates the ruler's vice from the work's value, then delivers the punchline comparing him to Yu the Great. The neat rhyme and balanced clauses make a serious historiographical point feel light and epigrammatic; the irony lies in measuring a tyrant against a culture-hero.

此诗艺术上以「慷慨明快、以议论见长」见长。全诗共四句，由尽道隋亡为此河而至今千里赖通波而无若水殿龙舟事。起「尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波」写尽道隋亡为此河：尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波；「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」写共禹论功不较多：若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多。全诗以议论见长，由尽道隋亡为此河而共禹论功不较多，慷慨明快，是皮日休诗中的名篇。通篇以少总多之法出之，章法严谨而用意深曲，意象凝练而情韵悠长，读之愈久，愈觉其构思之精与笔力之健，堪称同类诗作中不可多得之佳篇，足见诗人炉火纯青的艺术功力。通篇以少总多之法出之，章法严谨而用意深曲，意象凝练而情韵悠长，读之愈久，愈觉其构思之精与笔力之健，堪称同类诗作中不可多得之佳篇，足见诗人炉火纯青的艺术功力。通篇以少总多之法出之，章法严谨而用意深曲，意象凝练而情韵悠长，读之愈久，愈觉其构思之精与笔力之健，堪称同类诗作中不可多得之佳篇，足见诗人炉火纯青的艺术功力。

Allusions

Yu the Great is the mythical ruler who controlled the floods and founded the Xia dynasty, the archetype of meritorious, selfless governance. 'Water-palaces and dragon-boats' refers to Emperor Yang of Sui's infamous floating pleasure-courts and grand processions along the canal, symbols of his ruinous extravagance. By separating the canal (merit) from the boats (vice), Pi Rixiu recasts a stock moral tale into a nuanced judgement.

诗中「尽道隋亡为此河至今千里赖通波」「若无水殿龙舟事共禹论功不较多」等语，皆含典故故实。「尽道隋亡为此河至今千里赖通波」写尽道隋亡为此河至今千里赖通波；「若无水殿龙舟事共禹论功不较多」用大禹之典（禹疏九河治水），写若无水殿龙舟事共禹论功不较多。诗人以水殿龙舟、大禹等语入诗，不着痕迹，而把咏史怀古之情写得慷慨淋漓，是善于熔铸典故的体现。此等用典之法，熔铸古今而不着痕迹，既不炫博以示学，亦不拘泥于旧解，正见诗人学养之深与运思之巧。读者于此等处尤当细心玩味，方能领会其言外之旨与味外之味。此等用典之法，熔铸古今而不着痕迹，既不炫博以示学，亦不拘泥于旧解，正见诗人学养之深与运思之巧。读者于此等处尤当细心玩味，方能领会其言外之旨与味外之味。此等用典之法，熔铸古今而不着痕迹，既不炫博以示学，亦不拘泥于旧解，正见诗人学养之深与运思之巧。读者于此等处尤当细心玩味，方能领会其言外之旨与味外之味。

Commentary

'On the Past at the Bian River' is celebrated as a model of Tang 'yong shi' (history-judging) poetry that refuses easy moralizing. Later readers admire its fairness: the canal is useful, the emperor's tourism was the crime. Its wit and fairness made it a classroom favourite for teaching nuanced historical reading, and it stands among Pi Rixiu's best-known quatrains.

这首《汴河怀古》，是皮日休写咏史怀古之作，写尽道隋亡为此河、至今千里赖通波、共禹论功不较多之情，慷慨明快。起「尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波」——尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波。写尽道隋亡为此河：尽道隋亡为此河、至今千里赖通波——尽道隋亡为此河、千里赖通波；「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」——若无水殿龙舟事（水殿龙舟写隋炀帝事），共禹论功不较多（用大禹之典）。写共禹论功不较多：若无水殿龙舟事、共禹论功不较多——无水殿龙舟事、共禹论功较多。这「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」，是全诗之结：以共禹论功不较多写其怀古。全诗慷慨明快，以议论见长，正是皮日休诗中的名篇。综观全诗，情真、景切、理深，三者浑融无迹，故能于短短数语之中寄无限深意，令人百读不厌。其含蓄蕴藉之处，正是中国古典诗歌以少总多、言有尽而意无穷的美学精神的生动体现。

Prosody

Form Seven-character quatrain诗（七言绝句）
Rhyme Rhymes on he, bo, and duo, in the ge category—open, flowing tones suiting the confident argument.此诗为七言绝句，共四句，两句一联。押平声韵：「河」「波」「多」押歌部韵。诗体依绝句而定，句式整齐，音节随情起伏，正与写咏史怀古的慷慨明快相称，也见其以绝句写怀古的自然。
Tone pattern The first couplet moves briskly between blame and benefit; the second rises to an assured, almost triumphant cadence on the Yu comparison.句式上，「尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波」写尽道隋亡为此河，音节明快；「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」写共禹论功不较多，音节昂扬。全诗音节随情起伏，由明快而昂扬，正合绝句「含蓄」之妙，读来如咏史怀古、共禹论功不较多之音，慷慨而动人。
Reading note A seven-character quatrain of argumentative history. Its bright ge rhyme and tidy clauses carry a miniature essay: thesis (canal caused ruin), antithesis (still useful), counterfactual (no dragon-boats → rival Yu). Pi Rixiu's fair, witty manner is fully on display.此诗为七言绝句，是皮日休写咏史怀古之作，也是其诗中的名篇。全诗的艺术特色在于「慷慨明快、以议论见长」：「尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波」写尽道隋亡为此河、「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」写共禹论功不较多。全诗慷慨明快，以议论见长。尤为精妙者，是「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」用大禹之典；而「尽道隋亡为此河」写尽怀古之思，正是皮日休诗「慷慨明快」的典范，为历代选本所常收。《汴河怀古》一诗之所以读来声情并茂，正在于诗人以声韵配合情思、以节奏烘托意境，音节之长短、平仄之起伏，皆与诗意相为表里，此亦可见中国古典诗歌声律之美与匠心之工。

Line by line

尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波。

All say the Sui dynasty fell because of this river, yet to this day a thousand li depend on its flowing waves.

尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波。

All say the Sui perished because of this river; yet today for a thousand li we rely on its flowing waves.

首二句写尽道隋亡为此河，起笔即见其论。「尽道隋亡为此河」写尽道隋亡为此河，「尽道隋亡」写都说是隋亡、「为此河」写为了此河；「至今千里赖通波」写至今千里赖通波，「至今千里」写至今千里、「赖通波」写赖通波。两句一写尽道隋亡为此河、一写至今千里赖通波，以尽道隋亡为此河写隋亡为此河、以至今千里赖通波写千里赖通波，写尽尽道隋亡为此河、至今千里赖通波之情。以论起兴，慷慨而明快，是「以论起兴」的妙笔。

The opening two lines write that all say the Sui perished because of this river, the argument at once. The words all say the Sui perished write the common judgment; because of this river writes the Grand Canal. Yet today for a thousand li we rely on its flowing waves writes the present dependence. The two lines, one writing that the Sui perished for the river, one writing that today a thousand li rely on its waves, write to the full the feeling of the saying and the reliance. Rising through argument, bold and bright, the fine brush of rising through argument.

若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多。

Had there been no affair of water-palaces and dragon-boats, he might rival Yu the Great in merit—scarcely less.

若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多。

Had it not been for the water palace and dragon boats, his merit would rival Yu the Great's, not to be surpassed.

尾二句写共禹论功不较多，是全诗立意的落点。「若无水殿龙舟事」写若无水殿龙舟事，「若无」写如果没有、「水殿龙舟事」写水殿龙舟之事；「共禹论功不较多」写共禹论功不较多，用大禹之典写共禹论功不较多。两句一写若无水殿龙舟事、一写共禹论功不较多，以若无水殿龙舟事写水殿龙舟、以共禹论功不较多写共禹论功，写尽若无水殿龙舟事、共禹论功不较多之情。以论写史，慷慨而深刻，是全诗最动人处，也是「以论写史」的点睛之笔。

The closing two lines write that his merit would rival Yu the Great's, the landing of the whole's bent. The words had it not been write the counterfactual; the water palace and dragon boats write the emperor's pleasure barges. His merit would rival Yu the Great's, not to be surpassed uses the allusion to Yu the Great's flood-control merit. The two lines, one writing the absence of the pleasure barges, one writing the rival merit with Yu, write to the full the feeling of the counterfactual and the judged merit. Writing history through argument, bold and deep, the most moving place of the whole and the eye-dotting brush.

Study

Word focus

尽道 All say / it is commonly said — introduces the popular, unexamined verdict that the canal doomed the Sui. 「尽道」写尽道隋亡为此河，是写尽道之态的关键。「尽道隋亡为此河」着一「尽道」，写都说——着一「尽道」，写尽道隋亡为此河，见其言之众。两字写尽尽道之态，是「以词写言」的妙笔。「尽道」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。
千里 A thousand li — metonym for the vast stretch of territory sustained by the canal's transport; signifies its great utility. 「千里」写至今千里赖通波，是写千里之态的关键。「至今千里赖通波」着一「千里」，写千里——着一「千里」，写千里赖通波，见其河之长。两字写尽千里之态，是「以词写长」的点睛之词。「千里」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。
赖 Depend on / rely upon — underscores that later ages still owe their passage to the canal's waters. 「赖」字写至今千里赖通波，是写依赖之态的关键。「至今千里赖通波」着一「赖」，写依赖——着一「赖」字，写千里赖通波，见其赖河之深。一字写尽依赖之情，是「以一字写赖」的点睛之词。「赖」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。
论功 To weigh merit — the poet's counterfactual act of ranking Emperor Yang beside Yu the Great as a civilizer. 「论功」写共禹论功不较多，是写论功之态的关键。「共禹论功不较多」着一「论功」，写论功——着一「论功」，写共禹论功不较多，见其论功之深。两字写尽论功之态，是「以词写论」的点睛之词。「论功」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。

Related Reading

浣溪沙·一曲新词酒一杯 Huan Xi Sha: A New Song, a Cup of Wine 晏殊 · 同写感怀言志、无可奈何，一写无可奈何花落去、一写至今千里赖通波，皆于感怀之中见怀古 Both reflect on time and judgement

Yan Shu's lyric muses on the passage of time with gentle melancholy ('when will the moon be bright again'); Pi Rixiu's quatrain judges the past with crisp irony. Both are short forms carrying reflective weight, but one broods, the other argues.

晏殊《浣溪沙·一曲新词酒一杯》「无可奈何花落去，似曾相识燕归来」，写感怀言志，是宋词小令的名篇；皮日休《汴河怀古》则以「尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波」「若无水殿龙舟事，共禹论功不较多」写千里赖通波、共禹论功。两诗同写感怀言志、无可奈何：一写无可奈何花落去、以花落燕归写惜时，一写尽道隋亡为此河至今千里赖通波、以通波写怀古；一为晏殊之温润、一为皮日休之明快，并读正可见诗写「感怀怀古」的两种笔法，皆于感怀之中见怀古。

 八声甘州·对潇潇暮雨洒江天 Ba Sheng Gan Zhou: Facing the Rivulets of Dusk Rain Falling on River and Sky 柳永 · 同写登临怀古、感时伤事，一写误几回天际识归舟、一写至今千里赖通波，皆于登临之中见怀古 Both use a river setting for reflection

Liu Yong's slow lyric uses the river and dusk rain for romantic, lingering sorrow; Pi Rixiu's canal poem turns the waterway into a site of historiographical debate. Both are river poems, but one weeps, the other weighs merit.

柳永《八声甘州·对潇潇暮雨洒江天》「想佳人妆楼颙望，误几回、天际识归舟」，写登临怀远、感时伤事，是宋词写羁旅的名篇；皮日休《汴河怀古》则以「尽道隋亡为此河，至今千里赖通波」「共禹论功不较多」写千里赖通波、共禹论功。两诗同写登临怀古、感时伤事：一写误几回天际识归舟、以凝望写羁旅，一写尽道隋亡为此河至今千里赖通波、以通波写怀古；一为柳永之清丽、一为皮日休之明快，并读正可见诗写「登临怀古」的两种笔法，皆于登临之中见怀古。