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唐 Tang · 诗 Poem

及第后寄长安故人

After Passing the Examination, Sent to an Old Friend in Chang'an

戎昱

Rong Yu

科举Imperial Examinations 及第Passing the Examination 友情Friendship 七绝Septasyllabic Quatrain

东都放榜未花开，三十三人走马回。
秦地少年多办酒，已将春色入关来。

At the Eastern Capital the list is posted, flowers not yet in bloom;
Thirty-three of us ride back on horseback.
The youths of the Qin land have prepared much wine—
We have already brought the spring's color through the Pass.

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Meaning

After passing the imperial examination, the poet writes to his friends in Chang'an. The results have been announced in the Eastern Capital (Luoyang) while the flowers were still unopened. He and thirty-two other candidates are riding back in triumph. He tells his friends to prepare plenty of wine, for the new graduates have already brought the color of spring through the Pass.

东都洛阳放榜时春花尚未绽放，榜上三十三位及第者骑马而归。秦地长安的少年朋友多备下美酒，我们已带着满腔春色进入关中。

Appreciation

This quatrain captures the exuberance of examination success with light, elegant strokes. The opening contrast between the unopened flowers and the 'spring color' the poet brings is a clever double entendre: 'spring' refers both to the season and to the joyful news of passing, while 'Pass' refers both to the Tong Pass on the road to Chang'an and to the final mandatory examination at the Ministry of Rites (关试). The poem exudes the self-assured, graceful confidence of a young scholar, offering a more relaxed alternative to Meng Jiao's famously unfettered celebration.

【白话串讲】 “东都放榜未花开，三十三人走马回”——戎昱写及第：放榜之后，三十三人骑马回来。“秦地少年多办酒，已将春色入关来”——他们带着春色回关。中举的喜悦，写在马蹄声里。【意象与手法】首句“东都放榜未花开”点明放榜之地与时节，花尚未开暗喻喜悦抢先而来；次句“三十三人走马回”写同榜者集体荣归；末句“已将春色入关来”以双关语收束，春色既指春光亦喻及第喜讯。以未花开反衬春色来，以实写虚，节奏轻快、语言明畅。【情感与主旨】写于进士及第之后，抒发登科喜悦、寄赠长安友人。将少年及第的豪情与对友人的调侃融为一体，展现了唐代士人科场得意时的昂扬风采，亦折射科举制度下文人特有的自信与风流。【名句点睛】常考“已将春色入关来”以双关写及第喜讯；“三十三人走马回”以走马回写集体荣归。

Background

Rong Yu (戎昱) was a mid-Tang poet from Jingnan (in present-day Hubei). He had made several attempts at the jinshi examination before finally succeeding. In the Tang dynasty, the examination results were posted in early spring in the Eastern Capital (Luoyang), and successful candidates customarily rode through the streets on horseback. This poem, sent to friends in Chang'an, records that moment of glory and expresses the poet's pride and anticipation of congratulating friends.

《及第后寄长安故人》写于诗人进士及第之后，是一首抒发登科喜悦、寄赠长安友人的七绝。戎昱为唐代中期诗人，荆南人，少试进士，数举方得，此诗所写正是其终于登第、春风得意之际。唐代进士放榜多在早春，及第者按例骑马游街，意气风发，戎昱以三十三人走马回写同榜荣归，正当时风气。值得注意的是，科举乃唐代士人进身之要径，一朝及第，便意味着由布衣入仕、前程顿开，其喜可想而知；而此诗之喜，又不独在己身，更在可与长安故人共贺，足见友情之重。诗中以未花开反衬春色来，以实写虚，将功名之喜化作可触可感的明媚意象。戎昱一生官卑，此诗却难得地轻快飞扬，展现了唐代士人科场得意时的昂扬风采，亦折射出科举制度下文人那份特有的自信与风流，读来令人神往，亦是研究唐代士风与科场文学之鲜活材料，于应酬之中自见少年襟抱。要之，读懂此诗，须将其放回具体的历史语境与诗人的身世脉络之中，方能体会字句之下的深沉寄托与时代投影，其轻快飞扬正属一代文人之共有风采。

Art

The poem is deftly structured: the first two lines narrate the posting and the triumphant ride, while the last two turn to address friends. The deliberate contrast between 'flowers not yet open' and 'spring color brought in' creates a visual and emotional arc. The final couplet uses a double pun on 'spring' and 'Pass' to blend scene, feeling, and career prospects, achieving an effect that is both light-hearted and confident.

全诗节奏轻快，语言明畅，将少年及第的豪情与对友人的调侃融为一体，毫无苦涩之气。首句东都放榜未花开点明放榜之地与时节，花尚未开，暗喻喜悦抢先而来，以未花开反衬后文春色来，以实写虚，巧妙之极；次句三十三人走马回写同榜者集体荣归，走马二字写出春风得意之态，宛然在目。后两句寄语长安故人：秦地少年多办酒，请朋友们备好美酒，已将春色入关来则以双关语收束，春色既指眼前春光，亦喻及第喜讯与前程，关既指潼关亦指吏部关试，自信潇洒，志在必得。结构上，前二句叙事，后二句寄友，由己及人，由实入虚，层层递进展出少年襟抱。其以未花开反衬春色来、以双关收束的手法，举重若轻，于轻倩中见才调，最见唐人七绝以小见大、以浅写飞扬的本领，在及第诗中别有一种潇洒面目，亦为即事成歌的范本。综而论之，此诗技法浑成，情景相生，于平淡中见匠心，足为后世取法，故其艺术价值不在奇险而在浑成。

Allusions

The number 'thirty-three' reflects the typical size of a jinshi cohort during the Dali era (766–779). 'Riding back' evokes the Tang custom of a celebratory ride after the results. The 'Pass' is both the Tong Pass guarding the approach to Chang'an and the 'pass' (关试) administered by the Ministry of Rites, which a successful candidate still had to undergo to receive an official post. By saying he has already brought 'spring color' through the Pass, the poet jokingly signals that he has cleared the final hurdle, or at least is fully confident of doing so.

此诗虽为即事之作，亦暗用科场故典。三十三人用唐代进士科每年及第人数常例，代宗大历间每榜约三十人上下，诗人实写其数，既见真切，亦暗含同榜之荣。走马回用唐制进士放榜后皆跨马游街、称春风得意之俗，与孟郊登科后春风得意马蹄疾同一场景，而戎昱写于寄友之时，更带共贺之意。春色入关来中之关，双关潼关与吏部关试——唐代及第后尚须过关试方可授官，诗人以关代指前程，暗含已稳操胜券的自信。又，秦地少年用秦中少年之典，写长安友人之豪爽好客，亦见唐代士人交游之风。这些本属科场常典，经诗人点化，不着痕迹地融为轻快之歌，既写尽及第风光，亦见其对关试之成竹在胸，是即事用典、以熟见新的范例，亦见唐人七绝于浅近中自具风调，于常典中见新意。综上，诗中典故与意象经诗人融裁，皆服务于题旨，足见其学养与手腕，用典之妙正在化用无痕。

Commentary

This poem is often cited in discussions of Tang examination literature as a model of elegant handling of a conventional theme. The Song scholar Ji Yougong, in his 'Recorded Events of Tang Poetry' (唐诗纪事), notes the poet's delight. Critics have contrasted the unrestrained exuberance of Meng Jiao's '登科后' with the easy, graceful confidence of this piece. Hu Yinglin of the Ming dynasty, in his 'Poetry Marshlands' (诗薮), praised Tang quatrains that capture a small scene with refined charm, and this piece is a prime example. The line '已将春色入关来' is considered a masterstroke of double entendre, requiring knowledge of Tang examination procedures to be fully appreciated.

此诗历来为谈唐代科举诗者所举，以为写登科之喜的轻倩代表。宋人计有功《唐诗纪事》载戎昱生平，于此诗极言其及第之快；近人论唐人及第诗，每以孟郊《登科后》之矜张与此诗之潇洒对举，谓孟诗痛快而戎诗风流，各具面目。明人胡应麟《诗薮》论七绝，称唐人写生小景、即事成歌者，往往于轻倩中见才调，此篇正其例。更有论者指出，已将春色入关来一句，双关之妙冠绝及第诸作：春色是实，喜讯是虚，关是地，关试亦是事，一语而数意俱备，非深于唐科制者不能道。一首二十八字的小诗，既能见少年才子之襟抱，亦能为研究唐代科举与士风存一鲜活材料，其价值早已超出应酬本身。在唐人七绝以景写情、以虚写实的传统中，此篇以轻倩胜，最见少年才子之潇洒，亦足补科举文学之一种面目，为论科场诗者所重。要之，此诗在文学史上影响深远，向来为论者所重，具有不可替代的地位。

Prosody

Form Septasyllabic quatrain (Tang regulated verse, light and lucid)七言绝句（唐人近体，轻倩明畅）

Rhyme '回' and '来' rhyme in the level-tone 'hui' category (rhyme group 十灰), one rhyme throughout, the sound matching the light and joyful mood.回、来押平声灰韵（十灰），一韵到底，声情轻快相协。

Tone pattern Tonal pattern: '东都放榜仄平仄，三十三人平仄平；秦地少年平仄仄，已将春色仄平平.' It conforms to the regulated-verse pattern of a level-tone opening without rhyme in the first line, in strict Tang prosody.东都放榜仄平仄，三十三人平仄平；秦地少年平仄仄，已将春色仄平平。合七绝平起首句不入韵之格，唐律精严。

Reading note Unlike Du Fu's pentasyllabic ancient verse or Li Bai's irregular lyrics, this is a strict seven-character quatrain with a light melody that matches the theme. The level-tone rhyme produces a flowing, songlike effect, while the tonal pattern is standard for a level-tone, non-rhyming first line. The total effect is a concise, graceful poem that captures a moment of triumph with ease.与杜甫《剑门》五古的沉郁、李白《上留田行》杂言的奔放不同，戎昱此诗是一首规整的七言绝句，最宜以唐人格律衡之。它押平声灰韵，回、来同韵，一韵到底，读来轻快悠扬，正与及第之喜相称。平仄上，全诗合七绝平起首句不入韵的常格：东都放榜仄平仄、已将春色仄平平，粘对井然，可见唐人七绝律法之熟。值得注意的是，此诗声律之轻，与其情绪之飞扬互为表里——韵轻故调扬，调扬故境明。一首七绝，能把登科之喜写得既不矜张又极潇洒，声情与题意高度统一，正见唐人七绝以小景写大喜的本领。后人论及第诗，每以孟郊之痛快、戎昱之潇洒对举，而此篇以轻倩胜，律细而意畅，读来如少年骑马过市、春风满袖，最是科场得意时的一段清音，亦足证七绝一体宜于写即事小景，声律与情韵于此俱为轻扬。读此诗宜循其声气，方得其妙。

Line by line

东都放榜未花开，三十三人走马回。

In the Eastern Capital (Luoyang) the examination list was posted, while the flowers had not yet opened.

东都洛阳放榜时春花尚未绽放，榜上三十三位及第者骑马而归。

At the eastern capital, when the results were out the flowers had not yet bloomed; the thirty-three men on the list rode back on horseback.

这一联写及第之景，是全诗的基底。东都放榜点地、点事，未花开点节候——春花未放，而喜讯已来，暗喻喜悦抢在春光之前。三十三人写同榜之数，真切而带群体之荣；走马回写荣归之态，走马二字最活，写出及第者跨马游街、春风得意的轻盈。这一联的好处，在以未花开反衬喜之早，以走马写喜之形，不言喜而喜已满纸。更可玩者，未花开与后文春色来遥相呼应，先伏一笔，使全诗脉络圆转。十四字写尽一场登科的风光，是唐人七绝即事成歌、举重若轻的典型，亦见戎昱捕捉场景、点染情绪的手段，于极平实处见极飞扬的喜，落笔便有少年得意之全幅。

This couplet writes the scene of passing the exam, the base of the poem. 'The eastern capital' fixes place and event, 'the flowers had not yet bloomed' the season — spring flowers not open, yet the good news already come, secretly likening the joy to outrun the spring. 'The thirty-three men' the number of the successful candidates, real and carrying collective glory; 'rode back on horseback' the triumphant return, 'rode' the liveliest word, the lightness of the new scholars parading through the streets, drunk with spring wind. The art: the unbloomed flowers set off the early joy, horseback riding the shape of the joy; joy not named, yet joy fills the page. Fourteen words for the whole splendor of passing the exam, the typical Tang quatrain of event-made song, light in the hand, showing Rong Yu's gift for seizing the scene.

秦地少年多办酒，已将春色入关来。

Thirty-three of us rode back on horseback.

秦地长安的少年朋友多备下美酒，我们已带着满腔春色进入关中。

Friends of Qin, prepare plenty of wine; we have already brought the spring season through the Pass.

这是全诗的收束，也是少年襟抱的敞开。秦地少年指长安故人，多办酒写友人豪爽相待；已将春色入关来则是诗人的潇洒宣言：我们带着满腔春色进入关中。春色双关——既是眼前春光，更是及第喜讯与前程；关亦双关潼关与吏部关试，暗含已稳过此关的自信。这一联由己及友，由实入虚，把功名之喜化作可触可感的明媚意象，毫无矜张之气，唯有志在必得的从容。一个已将，何等潇洒；一个春色，何等明媚。收束得轻、收束得飞扬，是唐人七绝以浅语写豪情的典范，亦见及第诗人真正的少年意气，二十八字遂有满袖春风之全幅，读来令人神往。

This closes the poem, opening the young man's breast. 'Friends of Qin' means old friends in Chang'an, 'prepare plenty of wine' the friends' generous welcome; 'we have already brought the spring season through the Pass' the poet's dashing declaration: we have carried a bellyful of spring through the gates. 'Spring' is double — the spring scenery before them, and more, the exam's good news and future; 'Pass' is double, the Tong Pass and the ministry's examination hurdle, holding the quiet confidence of having crossed it. From himself to friends, from fact to image, turning the joy of success into a tangible, bright picture, no arrogance, only the composure of one certain of his goal. The closing light and flying, the Tang quatrain's model of writing boldness in plain words, twenty-eight words carrying a sleeve full of spring wind.

Study

Word focus

未花开 flowers have not yet bloomed 未花开三字，是全诗最巧的伏笔。东都放榜在早春，花信未到，诗人偏不放过这一迟，反而拿来作反衬：喜讯已来，而花尚未开，等于说喜悦抢在了春天前头。这一词的好处，在以实景写虚喜——花之未开是眼前景，喜之先至是心中事，二者对照，喜便有了形。更妙在它与末句春色来遥相呼应：前说花未开，后说春色来，一抑一扬，脉络圆转，使二十八字如一环。炼此三字，不费力气而全篇生色，是唐人七绝以浅近见经营的范例，亦见戎昱即事捕景、以景写情的灵敏手腕，于不经意处见匠心，落笔便伏后文之脉络，举重若轻。

春色入关来 A key expression in this poem; read it with the Chinese note below. 春色入关来是全诗最潇洒的一句，也是双关的绝唱。春色表面指眼前春光，实指及第的喜讯与前程的明媚；关表面指潼关、关中，实指吏部关试——唐代及第后须过关试方授官。诗人把两件实事（春光、过潼关）与两件虚事（喜讯、过考）熔为一语，一语而数意俱备，既写出归途的明丽，又写出对关试的成竹在胸。一个入字，把被动的赴京，写成主动的携春而来，志在必得之态宛然。炼此一句，举重若轻，是即事用典、以熟见新的高峰，亦见唐人七绝以小见大、以虚写实的真本领，二十八字遂有少年风流之全幅，自非深于科制者不能道，双关之妙冠绝及第诸作。