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唐 Tang · 诗 Poem

观游鱼

Watching the Swimming Fish

白居易

Bai Juyi

闲适leisure 观鱼fish-watching 童心childlike heart

绕池闲步看鱼游，正值儿童弄钓舟。
一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩。

I stroll idly around the pond to watch the fish swim, just as children are playing with their fishing boats.
We share the same love of fish, yet our hearts differ: I come to feed them, while you cast your hook.
Listen

Meaning

Strolling idly around the pond, the poet watches the fish swim, and happens to see children playing with their little fishing boats. Though both he and the children love fish, their intentions are not the same: he comes to scatter food and care for the fish, while they cast their hooks to catch them. Written in Bai Juyi's later, leisure-seeking years, the quatrain captures a moment of quiet pleasure by the water. Through the gentle contrast between his own 'feeding' and the children's 'hooking,' it reveals a compassionate, protective heart toward all living things—an expression of the poet's Buddhist-inflected 'contentment and harmony' and his delight in simple, childlike observation. The poem is plain in language yet enduring in implication.

绕着池塘悠闲地散步，看鱼儿游动，正好看到儿童在摆弄钓舟。同样是爱鱼，各自的心意却不同：我来喂食（爱鱼），你却在垂钓（欲得鱼）。

Appreciation

Vernacular reading: same as source. Images and technique: a famous leisure lyric on watching fish, writing the reflection 'same love, different hearts'—a representative of Bai's leisure poetry. The first line writes circling the pond to watch fish—the idle stroll and the gaze show leisure; the second writes meeting children with fishing boats; the third writes 'same love, different hearts'; the last 'I feed, you hook' is a line for the ages. The whole writes leisure in the idle stroll, children in the fishing boats, and the difference of fish-loving hearts—the poet loves the fish's life and movement, the children love to catch it. The contrast of 'feeding' and 'hooking' reveals the poet's 'kind to people and things' compassion and leisure mood. Emotion and theme: written in his middle-to-late years (~822), when after official ups and downs he turned to leisure, embraced Buddhism, styled himself 'Retired Scholar of Xiangshan,' and advocated 'contentment and harmony.' The poem shows his leisure by the pond and his compassionate heart.

【白话串讲】 白居易写《观游鱼》：“绕池闲步看鱼游，正值儿童弄钓舟”——“一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩”——同样是爱鱼，我来喂食，你却来钓鱼——他写人与人想法的不同。 【意象与手法】 此诗是白居易写观鱼闲趣的名篇，以「爱鱼心各异」写观鱼的感慨，是白居易闲适诗的名篇。首句「绕池闲步看鱼游」写绕池观鱼——那「绕池」写绕着池塘，那「闲步」写悠闲地散步，那「看鱼游」写看鱼儿游动，写尽观鱼的闲适；次句「正值儿童弄钓舟」写看到儿童弄舟垂钓——那「正值」写恰好遇到，那「儿童弄钓舟」写儿童在摆弄钓舟（准备垂钓）；三句「一种爱鱼心各异」写爱鱼心各异——那「一种爱鱼」写同样是爱鱼，那「心各异」写各自的心意不同；末句「我来施食尔垂钩」写施食与垂钩的对照——那「我来施食」写我来喂食（爱鱼、护鱼），那「尔垂钩」写你在垂钓（欲得鱼、钓鱼），是千古名句。全诗以「闲步看鱼游」写观鱼的闲适，以「儿童弄钓舟」写儿童的垂钓，以「一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩」写爱鱼之心的不同——同样是爱鱼，一个施食护鱼，一个垂钩钓鱼，写尽观鱼的感慨与机趣，是白居易闲适诗的名篇。 【情感与主旨】 此诗作于白居易中年以后（约长庆年间，822年前后），时白居易历仕杭州、苏州刺史，或晚年闲居洛阳。白居易一生历经仕途浮沉，晚年趋于闲适，崇奉佛道，自号「香山居士」，主张「知足保和」。此诗写其绕池观鱼的闲趣——那「绕池闲步看鱼游」写绕池散步、看鱼游动的闲适，那「正值儿童弄钓舟」写恰好看到儿童弄舟垂钓，那「一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩」写观鱼的感慨——同样是爱鱼，儿童以垂钓为乐（欲得鱼），诗人以施食为乐（爱其游）；那「我来施食尔垂钩」写尽诗人与儿童爱鱼之心的不同——诗人爱鱼是爱其生命、观其游动，儿童爱鱼是欲钓而得之；那「施食」与「垂钩」的对照，写尽诗人「仁民爱物」的慈悲心与闲适的心境，是白居易闲适诗的名篇。 【名句点睛】 常考“绕池闲步看鱼游，正值儿童弄钓舟”写观鱼的闲趣；“一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩”写爱鱼之心各异，言浅意深。

Background

This is a famous leisure lyric on watching fish, written in Bai Juyi's middle-to-late years (~822), when he had served as governor of Hangzhou and Suzhou, or later retired in Luoyang. Bai Juyi (772–846), styled Letian, also 'Retired Scholar of Xiangshan' and 'Master of Drunken Chant,' was a great realist Tang poet. After being demoted to Sima of Jiangzhou for memorializing, he served Hangzhou and Suzhou and later retired in Luoyang, embracing Buddhism and 'contentment and harmony,' writing many leisure poems. The poem writes his circling the pond to watch fish: 'I stroll idly around the pond to watch the fish swim'—'circle the pond' and 'idle stroll' and 'watch fish swim' write the leisure; 'just as children are playing with their fishing boats'—'just as' the chance meeting, 'playing with fishing boats' the children preparing to fish; 'same love of fish, yet hearts differ'—both love fish, but intentions differ; 'I come to feed, you cast your hook'—'feed' (care, protect), 'cast hook' (to catch). The whole writes leisure in the idle stroll and the difference of fish-loving hearts—a representative leisure lyric.

此诗是白居易写观鱼闲趣的名篇，作于白居易中年以后（约长庆年间，822年前后），时白居易历任杭州、苏州刺史，或晚年闲居洛阳。白居易（772—846），字乐天，号香山居士，又号醉吟先生，唐代伟大的现实主义诗人。他一生历任要职，中年后因上疏言事被贬江州司马，此后历仕杭州、苏州等地刺史，晚年闲居洛阳，崇奉佛道，主张「知足保和」，写了大量闲适诗。此诗写其绕池观鱼。诗中「绕池闲步看鱼游」写绕着池塘悠闲地散步、看鱼儿游动——「绕池」写绕着池塘，「闲步」写悠闲地散步，「看鱼游」写看鱼儿游动；「正值儿童弄钓舟」写恰好看到儿童在摆弄钓舟——「正值」写恰好遇到，「弄钓舟」写摆弄钓舟（准备垂钓）；「一种爱鱼心各异」写同样是爱鱼、各自的心意却不同——「一种爱鱼」写同样是爱鱼，「心各异」写心意不同；「我来施食尔垂钩」写我来喂食、你在垂钓——「施食」写喂食（爱鱼、护鱼），「垂钩」写垂钓（欲得鱼）。全诗以「闲步看鱼游」写观鱼的闲适，以「我来施食尔垂钩」写爱鱼之心的不同，是白居易闲适诗的名篇。

Art

The art may be read on four levels. First, writing leisure through 'idle stroll': 'I stroll idly around the pond to watch the fish swim' uses 'idle stroll' (purposeless walking) to show leisure, and 'watch fish swim' the focused gaze—the leisure mood. Second, writing chance meeting through 'just as': 'just as children are playing with their fishing boats' uses 'just as' for the accidental encounter, the children's fishing picture leading to the reflection. Third, writing contrast through 'same… different': 'same love of fish, yet hearts differ' sets the shared surface against the different intent, leading to the deeper meaning. Fourth, writing double meaning through 'feed' and 'hook': 'I come to feed, you cast your hook' contrasts caring and catching—one feeds, one hooks, a sharp contrast, a line for the ages. These four递进 make this seven-character quatrain write the leisure of watching fish and the difference of fish-loving hearts—Bai's gift for leisure and wit.

此诗的艺术特色可从四个层面解析。其一，以「闲步」写闲适。首句「绕池闲步看鱼游」以「闲步」写绕池观鱼的闲适——那「绕池」写绕着池塘，「闲步」写悠闲地散步（无目的的散步，正见闲适），那「看鱼游」写看鱼游动的专注，写尽观鱼的闲情逸致。其二，以「正值」写巧遇。次句「正值儿童弄钓舟」以「正值」写恰好遇到——那「正值」写偶然的相遇（恰好看到儿童弄舟垂钓），那「儿童弄钓舟」写儿童垂钓的画面，以巧遇引出下文的感慨。其三，以「一种…各异」写对照。三句「一种爱鱼心各异」以「一种爱鱼」与「心各异」的对照写观鱼的感慨——那「一种爱鱼」写表面相同的爱鱼，那「心各异」写实际不同的心意，以对照引出深意。其四，以「施食」「垂钩」写双关。末句「我来施食尔垂钩」以「施食」与「垂钩」的对照写爱鱼之心的不同——那「我来施食」写我来喂食（爱其生命），那「尔垂钩」写你在垂钓（欲得其鱼），一施一钓，对照鲜明，是千古名句。四重手法层层递进，使这首七绝写尽观鱼的闲趣与爱鱼之心的不同，正是白居易闲适诗与机趣诗的本领。

Allusions

The poem's diction is rooted in the traditions of watching fish and leisure. 'I stroll idly around the pond to watch the fish swim' recalls 'better to go back and weave a net than covet fish by the stream' (Hanshu) and the Zhuangzi debate 'you are not a fish, how know the fish's joy'—Bai's 'watch fish swim' continues the Hao-liang fish-watching tradition, also echoing 'better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes.' 'Idle stroll' recalls the leisure tradition of 'stroll the courtyard at ease' and Wang Wei's 'walk till the stream ends, sit and watch clouds rise.' 'Just as children are playing with fishing boats' recalls Hu Lingneng's 'A Child Angler' ('a tousle-headed child learns to angle, sit sideways among moss'), the child's-funnel tradition. 'Same love, different hearts' recalls 'hearts differ, as do faces' (Zuozhuan) and the benevolent-'love-fish' image. 'I come to feed, you cast your hook' recalls Jiang Taigong's straight-hook fishing and Mengzi's 'fish I desire'—Bai's 'feed vs. hook' debates the heart of fish-love, a picture of Confucian 'kind to people and things' and Buddhist 'protect life.' The poem blends Zhuangzi's Hao-liang, Hu Lingneng's child angler, and Jiang's straight hook into the difference of fish-loving hearts—Bai's 'plain yet enduring' gift.

此诗的用语深植于观鱼与闲适传统。「绕池闲步看鱼游」写绕池观鱼——那「看鱼游」令人想到「临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网」（《汉书·董仲舒传》）的临渊观鱼意象，也令人想到「子非鱼，安知鱼之乐」（《庄子·秋水》）的濠梁观鱼典故——庄子与惠子观鱼于濠梁之上，有「鱼之乐」之辩，白居易「看鱼游」正是濠梁观鱼传统的延续，也令人想到「相濡以沫，不如相忘于江湖」（《庄子·大宗师》）的江湖意象；那「闲步」令人想到「闲庭信步」的闲适意象，也令人想到「行到水穷处，坐看云起时」（王维《终南别业》）的闲适传统；「正值儿童弄钓舟」写儿童弄舟——那「儿童弄钓舟」令人想到「蓬头稚子学垂纶，侧坐莓苔草映身」（胡令能《小儿垂钓》）的垂钓小儿意象，也令人想到「小儿」的童趣传统；「一种爱鱼心各异」写爱鱼心异——那「心各异」令人想到「人心不同，各如其面」（《左传·襄公三十一年》）的典故，也令人想到「爱鱼」的仁者意象；「我来施食尔垂钩」写施食与垂钩——那「垂钩」令人想到「直钩钓鱼」的姜太公典故（姜太公垂钓于渭水，直钩无饵，钓的是文王），也令人想到「鱼我所欲也」（《孟子·告子上》）的鱼意象——孟子以「鱼与熊掌」论取舍，白居易以「施食与垂钩」论爱鱼之心，正是儒家「仁民爱物」传统与佛家「护生」观念的写照。全诗化用《庄子》濠梁观鱼、胡令能小儿垂钓、姜太公直钩等观鱼与闲适的意象，以「我来施食尔垂钩」写爱鱼之心的不同，正是白居易「平易而隽永」的本领。

Commentary

Long ranked among Bai Juyi's leisure masterpieces and a classic on watching fish and the benevolent heart. Critics have esteemed it: a Qing reader noted 'using fish to隐喻 people, the benevolent heart, plain yet enduring'; moderns stress the 'feed vs. hook' contrast as a line for the ages. Its special value: it writes leisure and the benevolent heart through watching fish—the idle circle and gaze continue the Hao-liang tradition; the 'feed vs. hook' contrast reveals the difference of fish-loving hearts—the poet loves the fish's life, the child loves to catch it; the contrast writes his 'kind to people and things' compassion, his later 'contentment and harmony' and Buddhist protect-life. 'Same love, different hearts' is a line for the ages. With 'White Cloud Spring' (cloud无心, water 闲) it is a leisure masterpiece; with 'By the Pool' (child steals lotus) a childlike-fun poem. For readers it is a window onto Bai's leisure mood and benevolent heart, and a classic on watching fish and protect-life.

此诗历来被推为白居易闲适诗的名篇，也是中国诗歌写观鱼与仁者之心的经典。历代论者对此诗评价极高：清人评此诗「以鱼喻人，仁者之心，平易隽永」；近人更指出「一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩」以「施食」与「垂钩」的对照写爱鱼之心的不同，是千古名句。在文学史上，此诗的特殊价值在于：它以观鱼写闲适与仁者之心——那「绕池闲步看鱼游」写绕池散步、看鱼游动的闲适（濠梁观鱼传统的延续），那「正值儿童弄钓舟」写恰好看到儿童弄舟垂钓，那「一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩」写观鱼的感慨——同样是爱鱼，儿童以垂钓为乐（欲得鱼），诗人以施食为乐（爱其游）；那「我来施食尔垂钩」写尽诗人与儿童爱鱼之心的不同——诗人爱鱼是爱其生命、观其游动（「施食」护鱼），儿童爱鱼是欲钓而得之（「垂钩」钓鱼）；那「施食」与「垂钩」的对照，写尽诗人「仁民爱物」的慈悲心——对万物的仁爱，正是白居易晚年「知足保和」、崇佛护生的写照。诗中「一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩」是千古名句。此诗与《白云泉》（「云自无心水自闲」）同为白居易闲适诗的名篇，一写观鱼的仁心，一写泉水的闲适；又与《池上》（「小娃撑小艇，偷采白莲回」）同为白居易写童心与闲趣的诗。对于今日读者，此诗是理解白居易闲适心境与仁者之心的窗口，也是中国诗歌写观鱼与护生的经典——那绕池的闲步、游动的鱼、施食与垂钩的对照，穿越千年，仍在诉说着「仁民爱物」的慈悲与观鱼自得的闲适。

Prosody

Form Seven-character quatrain (oblique-onset, level-ending, first line enters rhyme).七言绝句（仄起平收，首句入韵）
Rhyme Rhymes with the level 尤 category (游, 舟, 钩), single rhyme throughout; the sound is light and sprightly, suiting the leisure and wit of watching fish.全诗押平声尤韵（游、舟、钩），一韵到底，韵音轻快，正合观鱼的闲适与机趣。
Tone pattern A seven-character quatrain, four lines twenty-eight characters, level rhyme. Two couplets: first writes watching fish and chance meeting; second writes the difference of fish-loving hearts. The first couplet, with 'idle stroll' and 'just as,' is light; the second, with 'same… differ' and 'feed… hook,' turns deeper—fitting the reflection.此诗为七言绝句，四句二十八字，押平声韵。全诗按内容可分为两联：前联写观鱼与巧遇（绕池闲步看鱼游、正值儿童弄钓舟）；后联写爱鱼之心的不同（一种爱鱼心各异、我来施食尔垂钩）。声调上，前联以「闲步」「正值」写观鱼巧遇，节奏轻快；后联以「一种…各异」「施食…垂钩」写对照，节奏转深，正合观鱼的感慨。
Reading note A seven-character quatrain on the leisure of watching fish, writing leisure through 'idle stroll' and the difference of hearts through 'feed' and 'hook'—Bai's gift for leisure and wit. Four lines: first couplet the chance meeting (idle stroll, children's boats), second the differing hearts (same love, I feed/you hook). Recite the first couplet lightly for the chance meeting, the second deeply for the differing hearts—especially 'same love, different hearts; I feed, you hook' should be read calmly with aftertaste, to convey Bai's reflection and benevolent heart. Bai is known for plainness; this is a classic of his leisure and fish-watching verse.此诗是七言绝句写观鱼闲趣的名篇，以「闲步」写闲适、以「施食」「垂钩」写爱鱼之心的不同，正是白居易闲适诗与机趣诗的本领。全诗四句：前联写观鱼巧遇（绕池闲步看鱼游、正值儿童弄钓舟），后联写爱鱼心异（一种爱鱼心各异、我来施食尔垂钩）。声调上，前联节奏轻快，写观鱼的闲适；后联以「施食」「垂钩」写对照，节奏转深，那「绕池闲步看鱼游」的闲适、「我来施食尔垂钩」的仁心，正是白居易写观鱼的深意。诵读此诗，宜以轻快的语调读前联的观鱼巧遇，以深婉的语调读后联的爱鱼心异，尤其「一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩」两句，要读得平和而有余味，方能传达出白居易观鱼的感慨与仁者之心。白居易诗以平易著称，此诗正是其闲适诗与观鱼诗的经典。

Line by line

绕池闲步看鱼游，正值儿童弄钓舟。

This line is famous for the leisure of watching fish, writing leisure through 'idle stroll' and chance through 'just as'—the quiet mood and the childlike picture. 'I stroll idly around the pond to watch the fish swim'—'circle the pond' and 'idle stroll' (purposeless walking shows leisure) and 'watch fish swim' the focused gaze. 'Just as children are playing with their fishing boats'—'just as' the accidental encounter, 'playing with fishing boats' the children preparing to fish. Its deeper meaning: 'idle stroll watch fish' writes the leisure—not rushing but strolling, only to watch fish, the very picture of leisure; 'just as children play with boats' writes the chance picture—a still (poet watches) and a motion (child plays), one leisure one fun, paving the way for 'hearts differ.' Writing leisure through 'idle stroll' and chance through 'just as' is Bai's gift for leisure-fun, making this a famous line on watching fish.

绕着池塘悠闲地散步，看鱼儿游动，正好看到儿童在摆弄钓舟。

I stroll idly round the pond watching the fish, and happen on children playing with a fishing boat.

这句是写观鱼闲趣的名句，以「闲步」写闲适、以「正值」写巧遇，写尽观鱼的闲情与童趣的画面。「绕池闲步看鱼游」写绕着池塘悠闲地散步、看鱼儿游动——那「绕池」写绕着池塘，那「闲步」写悠闲地散步（无目的的散步，正见闲适），那「看鱼游」写看鱼儿游动的专注；「正值儿童弄钓舟」写恰好看到儿童在摆弄钓舟——那「正值」写恰好遇到，那「儿童弄钓舟」写儿童在摆弄钓舟（准备垂钓）。这句的深意在于：它以「绕池闲步看鱼游」写观鱼的闲适——那「闲步」写尽诗人绕池散步的悠闲（不是急行，而是闲步），那「看鱼游」写尽观鱼的专注与闲情——绕池闲步，只为看鱼游动，正是「闲适」的写照；以「正值儿童弄钓舟」写巧遇的画面——那「正值」写偶然的相遇（恰好看到儿童弄舟垂钓），那「儿童弄钓舟」写尽童趣的画面——儿童摆弄钓舟，准备垂钓；那「闲步看鱼游」与「儿童弄钓舟」相连，写尽观鱼时偶遇儿童垂钓的画面——一静一动（诗人观鱼，儿童弄舟），一闲一趣，为下文的「爱鱼心各异」作了铺垫。以「闲步」写闲适、以「正值」写巧遇，正是白居易写闲趣的本领，也让这句成为写观鱼闲趣的名句。

This line is a famous one of idle pleasure in watching fish, writing leisure through 'stroll idly' and the chance meeting through 'happen on'. 'Stroll idly round the pond watching the fish' — the idle walk, aimless, the focused watching of the fish; 'happen on children playing with a fishing boat' — the chance encounter, the children preparing to angle. Its depth lies in the contrast to come: the idle watcher and the playful children, stillness and movement, leisure and mischief, setting up 'two different ways of loving fish'.

一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩。

This line is the poem's finishing touch and a line for the ages, writing the difference of fish-loving hearts through the contrast of 'feed' and 'hook'—plain yet enduring. 'Same love of fish, yet hearts differ'—the same surface of loving fish, but different intentions; 'I come to feed, you cast your hook'—I feed (love their life), you hook (want the catch), one caring one hooking, a sharp contrast. Its deeper meaning: both the child and the poet 'love fish' but 'hearts differ'—one is the benevolent compassion of 'protect life' (feeding), one the innocent fun of childhood (hooking); the contrast of 'feed' and 'hook' writes the two kinds of fish-love. And 'I come to feed, you cast your hook' writes the poet's 'contentment and harmony' benevolent heart—loving all things without harming, Bai's later Buddhist protect-life. Writing reflection through 'hearts differ' and contrast through 'feed/hook' is Bai's 'plain yet enduring' gift, making this a line for the ages on watching fish and the benevolent heart.

同样是爱鱼，各自的心意却不同：我来喂食，你却在垂钓。

Both love the fish, yet in different ways: I come to feed them, you come to angle.

这句是全诗的点睛之笔，也是千古名句，以「施食」与「垂钩」的对照写爱鱼之心的不同，平易而隽永。「一种爱鱼心各异」写同样是爱鱼、心意却各异——那「一种爱鱼」写表面相同的爱鱼，那「心各异」写实际不同的心意；「我来施食尔垂钩」写我来喂食、你在垂钓——那「我来施食」写我来喂食（爱其生命），那「尔垂钩」写你在垂钓（欲得其鱼），一施一钓，对照鲜明。这句的深意在于：它以「一种爱鱼心各异」写观鱼的感慨——那儿童与诗人都「爱鱼」，但「心各异」——同样是爱鱼，心意却不同；以「我来施食尔垂钩」写爱鱼之心的不同——那「我来施食」写诗人爱鱼是施食护鱼、爱其生命与游动，那「尔垂钩」写儿童爱鱼是垂钓得鱼、欲得其乐；那「施食」与「垂钩」的对照，写尽两种爱鱼之心——一种是「仁民爱物」的慈悲（施食护生），一种是「童心无邪」的率真（垂钓为乐），正是诗人与儿童爱鱼之心的不同。而那「我来施食尔垂钩」，更写尽诗人「知足保和」的仁者之心——爱万物而不伤害，正是白居易晚年崇佛护生的写照。以「心各异」写感慨、以「施食」「垂钩」写对照，正是白居易「平易而隽永」的本领，也让这句成为写观鱼与仁者之心的千古名句。

This line is the poem's eye, a famous one, setting 'feeding' against 'angling' to write two different hearts in loving fish, plain yet enduring. 'Both love the fish, yet in different ways' — the surface love is the same, the heart different; 'I come to feed them, you come to angle' — one feeds, loving the fish's life; the other angles, wanting the fish for himself. The depth: the poet loves the fish by feeding and protecting them, loving their life and swimming; the child loves them by catching them, wanting the sport. The one is the compassion of loving all creatures, the other the innocence of a child's play — and the poet's feeding, harming nothing, is the mark of his later Buddhist reverence for life.

Study

Word focus

闲 The character 闲 is the key to writing the leisure of watching fish—one word writes the ease of circling the pond, the word-eye of 'I stroll idly around the pond to watch the fish swim.' 闲 means at leisure, ease. Bai writes the line: at least two senses—first, the ease of the stroll (purposeless walking), writing the leisure of circling the pond, not rushing but strolling; second, the ease of the mind, the poet's leisure mood of 'contentment and harmony' (undisturbed by the world, strolling to watch fish). Writing 'idle' for the step is key to Bai's leisure—substituted 'slow' or 'wandering' would lose either the leisure mood or the fit with 'watch fish'; only 闲 writes both the ease of step and the ease of mind, matching 'watch fish swim' and writing the leisure mood, making the line a famous one on watching fish. 「闲」字是写观鱼闲适的关键字，一个「闲」字写尽绕池散步的悠闲，是「绕池闲步看鱼游」的词眼。闲者，悠闲、闲适也。白居易以「绕池闲步看鱼游」写观鱼，一个「闲」字，至少有双重意味：其一，写散步之悠闲——那「闲步」写悠闲地散步（无目的的散步），「闲」字写尽绕池散步的悠闲——不是匆忙赶路，而是悠闲漫步，那「闲」字写尽观鱼的闲情逸致；其二，写心境之闲适——那「闲」字既是步态的悠闲，也是诗人闲适心境的写照——那「闲步看鱼游」写尽诗人「知足保和」的闲适心境（不为世事所扰，闲步观鱼），那「闲」字写尽白居易晚年的闲适。以「闲」字写步，正是白居易写闲适的关键——若换作「缓」「漫」等字，则或失其「闲适」的心境，或失其与「看鱼游」的搭配；唯「闲」字，以一字写尽散步的悠闲与心境的闲适，与「看鱼游」相合，写尽观鱼的闲情逸致，也让「绕池闲步看鱼游」成为写观鱼闲适的名句。
施 The character 施 is the key to writing the benevolent heart—one word writes the compassion of feeding and protecting fish, the word-eye of 'I come to feed, you cast your hook.' 施 means give, bestow. Bai writes 'I come to feed': at least two senses—first, the action of feeding (giving food to fish), writing the poet's love for fish; second, the compassion of protect-life, recalling Buddhism's 'giving' (one of the six perfections)—loving without harming, feeding to nourish, the picture of 'kind to people and things' and Buddhist protect-life. Writing 'give' for feeding is key to Bai's benevolent heart—substituted 'toss' or 'feed' would lose either the Buddhist 'giving' sense or the contrast with 'hook'; only 施 writes both the compassion of feeding and the Buddhist 'giving,' opposing 'hook' and writing the difference of fish-loving hearts, making the line a line for the ages on watching fish and the benevolent heart. 「施」字是写仁者之心的关键字，一个「施」字写尽施食护鱼的慈悲，是「我来施食尔垂钩」的词眼。施者，给予、布施也。白居易以「我来施食」写观鱼，一个「施」字，至少有双重意味：其一，写施食之动作——那「施食」写喂食（给鱼投食），「施」字写尽施食的动作——不钓不捕，而是投食喂鱼，那「施」字写尽诗人对鱼的仁爱；其二，写护生之慈悲——那「施」字令人想到佛教「布施」的观念（布施是佛教六度之一），那「我来施食」写尽诗人护生的慈悲——爱鱼而不伤鱼，施食以养鱼，正是「仁民爱物」与佛家护生的写照，那「施」字写尽白居易的慈悲心。以「施」字写喂食，正是白居易写仁者之心的关键——若换作「投」「饲」等字，则或失其「布施」的佛教意味，或失其与「垂钩」的对照；唯「施」字，以一字写尽施食护鱼的慈悲与「布施」的佛教意味，与「垂钩」相对，写尽爱鱼之心的不同，也让「一种爱鱼心各异，我来施食尔垂钩」成为写观鱼与仁者之心的千古名句。

Related Reading

白云泉 White Cloud Spring 白居易 · 同白居易闲适诗名篇 Both are famous leisure lyrics by Bai Juyi.

'White Cloud Spring' ('On Tianping Mountain the white cloud spring; cloud is无心, water is 闲' / 'why rush down the mountain, adding waves to the human world') writes the spring's leisure and withdrawal—a Bai leisure masterpiece. 'Watching the Swimming Fish' writes the pond-side leisure and benevolent heart—another Bai leisure masterpiece. Both Bai leisure lyrics: one writes 'cloud无心, water 闲' landscape (White Cloud Spring), one writes 'idle stroll watch fish' pond-side (Watching Fish); one writes withdrawal through 'why rush down,' one writes benevolence through 'I feed.' Read together they show two faces of Bai's leisure—withdrawn leisure and protective benevolence.

《白云泉》「天平山上白云泉，云自无心水自闲」「何必奔冲山下去，更添波浪向人间」写白云泉的闲适与避世，是白居易闲适诗的名篇。此诗《观游鱼》则「绕池闲步看鱼游」「我来施食尔垂钩」写观鱼的闲适与仁心，是白居易闲适诗的另一名篇。同为白居易闲适诗，一写「云自无心水自闲」的山水（白云泉），一写「绕池闲步看鱼游」的池畔（观游鱼）；一以「何必奔冲」写避世，一以「我来施食」写仁心。两诗对读，可见白居易闲适诗的两面——避世的闲适与护生的仁心。

 池上 By the Pool 白居易 · 同白居易写池畔童趣名篇 Both are Bai's famous pool-side childlike-fun lyrics.

'By the Pool' ('A little child punts the small skiff, stealing white lotus back; not knowing to hide his tracks, a trail opens through the duckweed') writes a child stealing lotus—a Bai pool-side childlike-fun masterpiece. 'Watching the Swimming Fish' writes seeing children play with fishing boats while watching fish—a Bai pool-side leisure masterpiece. Both Bai pool-side: one writes 'little child punts skiff' stealing lotus (By the Pool), one writes 'children play with boats' angling (Watching Fish); one writes fun through 'not hiding tracks,' one writes benevolence through 'I feed, you hook.' Read together they show Bai's delight in pool-side life.

《池上》「小娃撑小艇，偷采白莲回。不解藏踪迹，浮萍一道开」写小娃偷采白莲的童趣，是白居易写池畔童趣的名篇。此诗《观游鱼》则「正值儿童弄钓舟」「我来施食尔垂钩」写观鱼时看到儿童弄舟垂钓，是白居易写池畔闲趣的名篇。同为白居易写池畔，一写「小娃撑小艇」的偷采白莲（池上），一写「儿童弄钓舟」的垂钓（观游鱼）；一以「不解藏踪迹」写童趣，一以「我来施食尔垂钩」写仁心。两诗对读，可见白居易写池畔生活的情趣。

 暮江吟 Song of the Dusk River 白居易 · 同白居易写景咏物名篇 Both are Bai's famous scene-and-object lyrics.

'Song of the Dusk River' ('A streak of sunset spreads on the water; half the river emerald, half red' / 'dew like pearls, moon like a bow') writes the dusk river and dew-moon scenery—a Bai scene-and-object masterpiece. 'Watching the Swimming Fish' writes the leisure and reflection of watching fish—a Bai object-leisure masterpiece. Both Bai scene-and-object: one writes 'half river emerald, half red' dusk (Dusk River), one writes 'idle stroll watch fish' pond-side (Watching Fish); one colors with hue, one writes heart through watching fish. Read together they show Bai's variety—beauty of dusk and fun of watching fish.

《暮江吟》「一道残阳铺水中，半江瑟瑟半江红」「露似真珠月似弓」写暮江与露月的景物，是白居易写景咏物的名篇。此诗《观游鱼》则「绕池闲步看鱼游」「一种爱鱼心各异」写观鱼的闲适与感慨，是白居易咏物闲适的名篇。同为白居易写景咏物，一写「半江瑟瑟半江红」的暮色（暮江吟），一写「绕池闲步看鱼游」的池畔（观游鱼）；一以色彩写景，一以观鱼写心。两诗对读，可见白居易写景咏物的多样——暮色之美与观鱼之趣。