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魏晋 Wei-Jin · 诗 Poem

龟虽寿

Though the Tortoise Lives Long

曹操

Cao Cao

励志Inspirational 壮志Ambition

神龟虽寿，犹有竟时。
螣蛇乘雾，终为土灰。
老骥伏枥，志在千里。
烈士暮年，壮心不已。
盈缩之期，不但在天。
养怡之福，可得永年。
幸甚至哉，歌以咏志。

Though the tortoise lives long, its time must come.
The snake rides mist, but ends as dust.
An old steed in the stable still longs to gallop a thousand li.
A hero in his twilight years never ceases his ambition.
The span of life is not solely decreed by Heaven.
By nurturing health, one may prolong years.
How fortunate I am! I sing to express my will.

Listen

Meaning

This poem expresses Cao Cao's indomitable spirit and belief in human effort, even in old age, rejecting the idea that lifespan is entirely predetermined by heaven.

神龟虽能长寿，也终有生命完结之时。螣蛇虽能乘雾腾空，终究化为土灰。年老的千里马伏在马槽边，雄心仍驰骋千里。有壮志的人到了晚年，奋发的心志依然不止。人寿的长短，不只由天决定。保养身心得法，便可延年益寿。真是幸运极了，用歌唱来抒发我的志向。

Appreciation

Opening with the inevitable end of even divine creatures, the poem then bursts with undying ambition, symbolized by the old steed and the aging hero. It concludes with a rational view on life span, advocating self-cultivation. The famous couplet '老骥伏枥，志在千里；烈士暮年，壮心不已' epitomizes the Jian'an style's vigor and resilience.

【白话串讲】 “老骥伏枥，志在千里；烈士暮年，壮心不已”——老马趴在槽边，心里还想着千里之外。曹操写这首诗时已经53岁，但他说：我还没老，我还想建功立业。【意象与手法】诗以四言体写成，继承《诗经》雅颂之骨而注入建安慷慨之气。起二联以神龟、螣蛇设喻，先言物之必亡以破长生幻想；「老骥伏枥，志在千里。烈士暮年，壮心不已」一联陡转正意，以老马伏枥而心驰千里对举暮年壮心，气势流转；结尾「盈缩之期，不但在天。养怡之福，可得永年」由感慨转入说理，见通达之识。【情感与主旨】建安十二年（207年），曹操北征乌桓，摧毁袁绍残余势力，统一北方在望。归途中作《步出夏门行》组诗，本篇为末章。时曹操年五十三，借歌咏生命与志向，既总结戎马生涯，更宣示暮年不减的进取之志，亦含对寿命天定论的理性反思，是建安风骨的典型代表。【名句点睛】必考名句「老骥伏枥，志在千里。烈士暮年，壮心不已」的壮怀与比喻手法，以及「盈缩之期，不但在天」所体现的积极人生态度；「幸甚至哉，歌以咏志」为乐府合乐套语，非正文。

Background

In 207 AD, after the northern expedition against the Wuhuan, Cao Cao, then 53, wrote this poem as the final chapter of 'Stepping Out of Xiamen Gate.' It reflects his reflection on life and ambition, rejecting fatalism.

建安十二年（207年），曹操北征乌桓，大破乌桓蹋顿单于，摧毁袁绍残余势力，统一北方在望。归途中登临碣石，作《步出夏门行》组诗，本篇为末章《龟虽寿》（组诗共四章：观沧海、冬十月、土不同、龟虽寿）。时曹操年五十三，正值用兵方酣、壮志凌云之际。此诗借歌咏生命与志向，既总结戎马生涯——「三十功名」式的半生征战尽在不言中，更宣示暮年不减的进取之志；又针对汉末方士盛行、求仙长生之风，提出寿命不但在天、更在人为的理性反思，表现出曹操不信天命、积极进取的唯物精神。组诗以《观沧海》写天地之壮，以《龟虽寿》写生命之志，一外一内，皆见其「挟天子以令诸侯」而志在统一天下的雄主胸襟，是建安文学「慷慨悲凉」风格的代表作。尤可注意者，汉末方士盛行、求仙之风弥漫朝野，曹操此诗却以神龟、螣蛇设喻破长生之说，独标「壮心不已」之志，正见其不信天命、务实的雄主本色，亦见建安文学由感伤转向进取的新变。

Art

The poem is in four-character lines, inheriting the structure of the Book of Songs but infused with Jian'an vigor. It begins with negative examples (divine tortoise, snake) to establish the inevitability of death, then pivots to positive images (old steed, hero) to assert undying ambition. The ending turns to philosophical reasoning.

诗以四言体写成，继承《诗经》雅颂之骨而注入建安慷慨之气。起二联以神龟、螣蛇设喻，先言物之必亡以破长生幻想：神龟虽寿终有竟时，螣蛇乘雾终为土灰，两句连举两种神物，极言万物有终，为下文翻出正意蓄势；「老骥伏枥，志在千里。烈士暮年，壮心不已」陡转正意，以老马伏枥而心驰千里对举暮年壮心，气势流转，一联而全诗生色；「盈缩之期，不但在天。养怡之福，可得永年」由感慨转入说理，盈缩、养怡二句见通达之识。章法上先抑后扬、先破后立：破的是长生幻想，立的是进取之志与养生之理，层层转折，跌宕有致。语言上四言句式斩截古朴，如金石相击，「不已」二字力重千钧，正合钟嵘所评「曹公古直，甚有悲凉之句」。又全诗以「寿」「竟」「灰」「里」「已」「天」「年」「志」诸韵隔句相押，声情由平缓转激越再归于平和，与「破—立—理」的章法相合，读来抑扬有致。尤妙者，全诗以「老骥伏枥」四句为枢纽，前后呼应，气脉贯通，虽是古体而不失章法之严密。

Allusions

The divine tortoise alludes to Zhuangzi; the snake to Xunzi; the old steed to Hanfeizi. These references enrich the poem's cultural depth.

神龟典出《庄子·秋水》「吾闻楚有神龟，死已三千岁矣」及《史记·龟策列传》所载长寿神龟之说，喻长寿之物；螣蛇见《荀子·劝学》「螣蛇无足而飞」，属龙类能兴云雾，喻神通之物——连举神龟、螣蛇两种神物而言其必终，正破秦汉以来方士「长生不死」之说。老骥伏枥化用《韩非子》老马识途之喻与千里马典故，以「老骥」自况，写老而志不衰；「烈士」指有壮志功业之心的人，非今义殉难者，见《庄子》「烈士为天下见善矣」之语。养怡承《庄子·养生主》「缘督以为经」的养生之旨，而一反其「顺天」为「尽人」，写出人定胜天的积极。四言句式遥接《诗经》雅颂，骨力遒劲，而注入建安之慷慨，典故皆化于设喻之中，不见斧凿，是「以四言写壮怀」的典范。又「养怡」二字兼采《庄子》养生与汉魏「养性」之说，然去其虚无、取其务实，正见曹操于传统资源中别开新境的胆识。又以「志在千里」写壮心、「可得永年」写养生，一外一内，皆归于一「人」字，足见其以人为本的务实精神。

Commentary

Critics praise Cao Cao's straightforward and powerful style. This poem embodies the Jian'an spirit: deep feelings and strong writing.

钟嵘《诗品》评曹公「古直，甚有悲凉之句」，此诗正合其评：四言古直，而「老骥伏枥」一联悲凉中有壮气。刘勰《文心雕龙·时序》称建安文学「志深而笔长，梗概而多气」，此篇老骥一联正是「梗概多气」的注脚。朱熹亦赞其「有英雄之志」，谓「老骥伏枥，志在千里，烈士暮年，壮心不已」为「非衰飒语」。历代论者多注目「老骥」一联，以为写出了人到暮年而壮心不坠的典型心态，激励后世无数志士；「盈缩之期，不但在天」更被看作曹操不信天命、注重人为的进步思想。在诗史上，此诗以四言写壮怀，遥继《诗经》而别开生面，与《观沧海》并称曹操四言双璧，是中国诗歌中「老当益壮」母题的源头，其「壮心不已」四字，千载之下犹令人感奋，是建安风骨最凝练的表述。要之，此诗以四言写壮怀、以壮心抗天命，将慷慨之气与通达之识熔于一炉，千载之下犹能砥砺人心，是「建安风骨」最具感发力量的篇章。

Prosody

Form Four-character Yuefu (Step out of Xiamen Gate, Chapter 4)四言乐府（《步出夏门行》第四章，古体）

Rhyme Alternating rhymes on zhi, shi, hui, li, etc.隔句押韵，韵脚：时、灰、里、已、天、年、志（古体叶韵较宽，之、微、先、支等韵部通叶）。

Tone pattern Natural pingze, majestic建安四言，宗法《诗经》，句式整齐而气脉流转；以短促的四言句连击而出，平仄自然，气势沉雄，如「老骥伏枥，志在千里」四句一气贯注，声情慷慨。

Reading note The last couplet is a formulaic closing for Yuefu.此诗为四言古体乐府，属曹操《步出夏门行》组诗第四章，句式全为四言，隔句押韵，韵脚「时、灰、里、已、天、年、志」以古体叶韵通押（之、微、先、支等韵部相协），较近体为宽，正合古体「以气驭韵」之体。四言体源于《诗经》，句短而节促，最宜写庄重慷慨之情，曹操承《诗经》雅颂之骨而注入建安慷慨之气：全诗十四句，前六句以神龟、螣蛇设喻立论，句句斩截；中四句「老骥伏枥，志在千里。烈士暮年，壮心不已」一气贯注，如金石相击，是全诗声情最高处；后四句转入说理，语气由激转平，收以「幸甚至哉，歌以咏志」的合乐套语。章法上先破后立、由立而理，层层转折；句法上全用四言，齐整如刀裁，无一虚字，正合钟嵘「曹公古直」之评。值得注意者，「幸甚至哉，歌以咏志」为《步出夏门行》各章通用的乐府合乐尾声套语，非正文，读之不可误作诗意；全诗以四言写壮怀，遥继《诗经》而别开生面，与《观沧海》并称曹操四言双璧，是建安风骨在格律上的典型标本。

Line by line

神龟虽寿，犹有竟时。

Even the divine tortoise, long-lived, has its end. (Opens with a legendary creature to assert life's limits.)

神龟虽能长寿，也终有生命完结之时。

The spirit tortoise is long-lived, yet has its end.

起句以神物起兴，言生命有限，是全诗立论之基。「神龟」典出《庄子·秋水》所载长寿神龟之说，是古人心中最长寿的灵物，「虽寿」先极言其寿之长；「犹有竟时」陡转，即便神龟也终有终结之时，一个「犹」字写出「尚且如此，何况于人」的推演之力。此句之妙在以神物破长生：秦汉以来方士鼓吹服食求仙、长生不死，曹操偏以最长寿的神龟设喻，先承认其寿，再言其必终，以退为进，从根上破除长生幻想。两句四言，斩截古朴，开篇即立起理性审视生命的态度，为下文「老骥伏枥」的翻出正意、不以天命自限作了最坚实的铺垫，是全诗「先破后立」章法的第一环。

The opening uses a spirit creature for bi-xing, writing life's limit, the poem's ground. The spirit tortoise comes from Zhuangzi's longest-lived creature; though-long-lived first states its longevity; yet-has-its-end suddenly turns - even the spirit tortoise has an end. The yet character writes the inference: even so, let alone man. The line's subtlety is using a spirit creature to break immortality: Qin-Han fangshi preached elixirs; Cao Cao chooses the longest-lived tortoise, admits its longevity then states its end, breaking the immortality fantasy from the root. The two four-character lines are decisive, establishing the rational attitude toward life - the first link of the poem's break-then-build structure.

螣蛇乘雾，终为土灰。

The snake rides mist, but ends as dust. (Another divine creature, reinforcing mortality.)

螣蛇虽能乘雾腾空，终究化为土灰。

The Teng snake rides the mist, yet turns to dust at last.

此句再举神物，强化万物有终之理。「螣蛇」见《荀子·劝学》「螣蛇无足而飞」，属龙类，能兴云吐雾、腾空而行，比神龟更具神异色彩；「乘雾」写其腾空之能，「终为土灰」写其最终的归宿——再神通广大，也终归化为尘土。此句与上句对举成联：神龟以寿称，螣蛇以能称，一寿一能，皆是人所艳羡的神异之物，而一有竟时、一为土灰，把「万物有终」的道理说尽，彻底破除长生与神通之幻想。两句连举，语气如断金截铁，正见曹操不信天命、直面生死的清醒。此联在全诗结构上是「破」的完成：既破长生，亦破神通，则人生唯一可恃者唯有「壮心」，为下文「老骥」「烈士」的「立」蓄满气势，章法严整而有力。

This line adds another spirit creature, strengthening all-things-end. The Teng snake appears in Xunzi's Encouragement of Learning - a dragon-like creature that rises on mist; more numinous than the tortoise. Rides-the-mist writes its flight; turns-to-dust writes its final end - however powerful, it becomes dust. This couplet pairs with the previous: tortoise for longevity, snake for power; both are admired spirit creatures, yet one has its end, one turns to dust. The two lines together are decisive as cut metal, showing Cao Cao's clarity about life and death. Structurally this completes the break: immortality broken, power broken; hence the only reliance is the fierce will, preparing the old steed and hero to build.

老骥伏枥，志在千里。

An old steed in the stable still longs to gallop a thousand li. (Turn: old age does not diminish ambition.)

年老的千里马伏在马槽边，雄心仍驰骋千里。

An old steed in the stable still dreams of a thousand li.

此句是全诗转折之枢纽，翻出正意，为千古名句。「老骥」指年老的千里马，「伏枥」写其卧伏马槽、年老力衰之状；「志在千里」陡转，写其雄心依然驰骋千里——身虽伏枥，志在千里，一伏一驰，形成强烈的张力。「骥」本是日行千里的良马，以老骥自喻，正见曹操年五十三而壮志凌云：身体可以衰老，处境可以困顿，而志向不可磨灭。此句之妙有三：一是以马喻人，老马伏枥而心驰千里，正是壮士暮年而壮心不坠的写照，比喻贴切而形象；二是先抑后扬，伏枥是抑，千里是扬，一抑一扬之间，精神为之振起；三是与上文呼应，神龟螣蛇之必终，正衬此志之可贵，破长生而立壮心，全诗自此翻出正意。

This line is the poem's turning point, the famous line. Old steed means an aged thousand-li horse; in-the-stable writes its lying in the trough, old and weak. Still-dreams-of-a-thousand-li suddenly turns: the body lies in the trough, yet the heart gallops a thousand li - one lies, one gallops, strong tension. The steed is the good horse; using the old steed for self-comparison shows Cao Cao at fifty-three with soaring will: the body may age, the lot may decline, yet the will cannot be extinguished. The line's subtlety is threefold: horse metaphor for man, old steed lying yet heart galloping = hero in later years with undimmed will; first-suppress-then-raise, stable as suppression, thousand li as raise; and the echo with the tortoise-snake's end sets off this will's preciousness. Break immortality, build fierce will - the poem turns here.

烈士暮年，壮心不已。

A hero in his twilight years never ceases his ambition. (Direct statement: the heart of the poem.)

有壮志的人到了晚年，奋发的心志依然不止。

A hero in his later years keeps his ambition undimmed.

此句直抒胸臆，是全诗警策，建安风骨所系。「烈士」指有壮志功业之心的人，非今义殉难者，「暮年」写其年岁已老；「壮心不已」写奋发的心志依然不止，「不已」二字力重千钧，写壮心之绵长无尽、至死不衰。此句与上句「老骥伏枥，志在千里」对举成联：老骥是喻，烈士是本体；伏枥喻暮年，志千里写壮心，喻体与本体两两相合，由物及人、由喻入实，把「老当益壮」之意说透。尤为可贵者，「不已」二字不写「不减」「不衰」，而写「不已」——不止息、无穷尽，壮心不是维持于一时，而是终其一生、至死不渝，其气概之雄、意志之坚，正是曹操「老骥」精神的集中爆发。此联直抒胸臆而气格雄浑，千载之下读之犹觉慷慨激昂，是「建安风骨」最凝练的表述，亦是中国文学中「老当益壮」母题的源头。

This line speaks directly, the poem's alert core, the Jian'an bone. Hero means a man with heroic ambition (not the modern martyr); later-years writes his age. Keeps-his-ambition-undimmed writes the fierce will's ceaseless; undimmed is weighty - not lessened, not faded, but unceasing, lifelong, to death. This couplet pairs with the old steed: steed is the metaphor, hero is the ground; stable metaphorizes later years, thousand-li writes fierce will. The two match, from thing to man, from metaphor to fact, making the grow-old-but-strong idea complete. The undimmed is especially precious: it writes not maintenance but endlessness - the heroic will not sustained for a moment, but lifelong, to death. The direct speech yet vast spirit makes this the most condensed statement of Jian'an bone, and the source of the Chinese grow-old-but-strong motif.

盈缩之期，不但在天。

The span of life is not solely decreed by Heaven. (Philosophical reflection: human effort matters.)

人寿的长短，不只由天决定。

The length of life is not decided by heaven alone.

此句由壮怀转入说理，提出人力可争，见乐观奋发之识。「盈缩」指寿命的长短，语出《淮南子》「盈缩之期」之说；「不但在天」以「不但」否定天命决定论——寿命长短不单单由天定，言外之意，人力亦可为之。此句是全诗思想的深化：前四句写壮心不已，是精神上的进取；此句写寿命可争，是观念上的破天命。汉代谶纬盛行、方士鼓吹「天命」与长生，曹操偏说「不但在天」，把生命的主宰权从天命手中夺回一半交给人自己，表现出不信天命、积极有为的理性精神，与其「唯才是举」、不信祥瑞的施政思想一脉相通。两句四言，斩截有力，「不但」二字以否定句式立论，语气坚决，为下句「养怡之福，可得永年」的正面主张作了铺垫。

This line turns from heroic feeling to argument, proposing human striving. Length-of-life refers to lifespan, from the Huainanzi. Not-decided-by-heaven-alone uses not-alone to deny the heaven-determinism: lifespan is not heaven's decision alone; human effort counts. This line deepens the poem: the previous four lines wrote the undimmed will as spiritual advance; this line writes lifespan's contest as conceptual break of heaven's mandate. Han dynasty prognostication and fangshi preached heaven-mandate and immortality; Cao Cao says not-alone, taking half of life's mastery from heaven and giving it to man - the rational spirit of active striving, consistent with his talent-only recruitment and rejection of auspices. The four characters are decisive, the not-alone negative sentence establishing the argument, preparing the next line's positive claim.

养怡之福，可得永年。

By nurturing health, one may prolong years. (Positive advice on self-cultivation.)

保养身心得法，便可延年益寿。

The blessing of well-being can extend one's years.

此句言养身以延志，提出积极的养生观，是全诗说理的正意。「养怡」指保养身心、调和性情，「养怡之福」写善于调养所获之福；「可得永年」写便可延年益寿，「可得」以肯定语气立论，与上句「不但在天」的否定相呼应，一破一立，把「寿命在人为」之理说透。此句之妙有二：一是养怡非求仙，曹操不讲服食丹药、长生不死，而讲调养身心、延年益寿，是理性而务实的养生观，与其破除长生幻想的立场一以贯之；二是养生为壮志，养怡非为苟活，而是为了保有「壮心不已」的本钱，永年之求正是为「志在千里」续航——养身以延志，健身以报国，养生与壮志合一。两句四言，平实中见通达，为全诗由感慨、壮怀归入理性的收束，是「人定胜天」思想的诗歌表达。

This line writes nourishing the body to extend the will, proposing the positive health-view, the poem's argument proper. Well-being means nourishing body and mind, harmonizing temperament; the blessing-of-well-being writes the good of such care. Can-extend-one's-years writes longevity; can is the affirmative, echoing the previous not-alone - one break, one build, making the life-is-human argument complete. The line's subtlety is twofold: well-being is not seeking immortality - Cao Cao does not preach elixirs, but mind-body care for longevity; and health is for the will, not for mere survival - nourishing is to keep the fierce will undimmed, longevity for the thousand-li journey. Nourish the body to extend the will, strengthen the body to serve the state; health and ambition one. The plain four characters show equanimity, closing the poem's turn from lament and grandeur to reason, the poetic expression of man-conquering-heaven.

幸甚至哉，歌以咏志。

How fortunate I am! I sing to express my will. (Formulaic closing, not part of the main content.)

真是幸运极了，用歌唱来抒发我的志向。

How great the blessing! I sing to express my will.

此句为乐府合乐尾声套语，非全诗正文，然于章法自有其用。「幸甚至哉」写何其幸运，「歌以咏志」写作歌以抒发志向，两句为《步出夏门行》每章通用的结尾，是汉乐府「大曲」合乐时的套语，故四章皆以此作结。论者多谓其与正文无涉，可视为乐曲收尾的程式；然细味之，「幸甚至哉」的庆幸之感正与全诗「壮心不已」「可得永年」的昂扬情调相合——生于多事之秋而得展雄图，幸也；「歌以咏志」更直揭《龟虽寿》之题旨：全诗所歌，正是老骥伏枥之志、烈士不已之心。故此句虽为套语，置于篇末，恰以合乐之礼收束激昂之情，声情俱止而余响不尽，亦可见乐府诗「诗乐一体」的体制特征，读之不可忽。

This line is the yuefu musical refrain, not the poem's body, yet structurally useful. How-great-the-blessing writes the gladness; I-sing-to-express-my-will writes the song. These two lines are the shared closing of Step Out the Xia Men Song's chapters, the Han yuefu da-qu refrain; hence all four chapters close with it. Critics say it is unrelated to the body, a musical formula; yet tasted closely, the how-great gladness matches the poem's undimmed will and extend-your-years uplift - born in troubled times yet able to unfold grand plans, a blessing. I-sing-to-express-my-will directly reveals the Tortoise's theme: what is sung is the old steed's will, the hero's undimmed heart. Hence the refrain, placed at the end, closes the impassioned feeling with musical form; sound and feeling stop yet aftersound remains.

Study

Word focus

竟 end, a single word capturing life's finitude. 「神龟虽寿，犹有竟时」之「竟」，是全诗开篇的诗眼，一字写尽生命有限。「竟」训终了、完结，「有竟时」写有终结之时，以最古直的字写最冷峻的事实：神龟虽寿，终有竟时，万物有终，概莫能外。此字之妙有三：一是分量之重，「竟」字冷硬斩截，如断金截铁，不带丝毫回旋，正见曹操直面生死的清醒，不讳言死，故能破除长生幻想；二是位置之巧，置于「虽寿」之后，「虽寿」先扬、「竟时」陡抑，一扬一抑之间，长生之说的虚妄立现；三是涵盖之广，神龟之竟时涵盖万物之必终，一字而全诗立论之基已成。炼「竟」字以破长生，是曹操「古直」诗风的典型体现，亦为下文「壮心不已」的翻出正意预作铺垫。

不已 unceasing, expressing enduring ambition with great force. 「烈士暮年，壮心不已」之「不已」，是全诗情感的高潮所在，写壮心持久，力重千钧。「已」训止息，「不已」即不止息、无穷尽，写壮心之绵长无尽、至死不衰。此词之妙有三：一是分量之重，「不已」二字不用「不减」「不衰」之平语，而写「不已」——壮心非维持于一时，而是终其一生、永不止息，其气概之雄、意志之坚，力重千钧；二是声情之壮，「已」字仄声收束，短促有力，如金石相击，正合「壮心」之激昂；三是映衬之工，与上句「老骥伏枥」的困顿相对照，身体可以衰老，处境可以困顿，而壮心「不已」，一困一奋之间，精神为之振起。炼「不已」二字，把「老当益壮」的典型心态写得淋漓酣畅，千载之下犹令人感奋，是「建安风骨」最凝练的表述。

盈缩 length and shortness, summarizing the span of life concisely. 「盈缩之期，不但在天」之「盈缩」，概括寿命变化，精炼准确，是全诗由壮怀转入说理的关键词。「盈缩」本指盈满与亏缺、伸长与缩短，语出《淮南子》等书论天象岁时的「盈缩」之说，此处借以指人寿的长短变化——寿命或长或短，如月之盈缺，变化无常，两字以天象喻人寿，精炼而形象。此词之妙有二：一是以简驭繁，寿命长短本难尽言，「盈缩」二字以盈缺变化概括之，准确而典雅；二是破天立人，盈缩既非定数，则「不但在天」，人可争之，为下句「养怡之福，可得永年」的正面主张立论，承上启下，是全诗说理之枢。炼「盈缩」二字，以天象之语写人寿之变，见曹操用字之精审，亦见其不信天命、注重人为的理性精神，是「以一字尽意」的典范。

龟虽寿