Su Shi, also known by his pseudonym Su Dongpo, is one of the most renowned poets and essayists of the Song Dynasty. His work is celebrated for its profound emotional insight and vivid imagery. Among his lesser-known yet equally significant poems is “Recalling Old Times at Mianchi—composed following the rhymes of Ziyou.” This poem reflects deep philosophical thoughts on human life, impermanence, scarcity, and change.

Su Shi’s works are often praised for their literary merits rather than their philosophical depth. However, a closer examination of his life reveals that his thoughts were heavily influenced by both Buddhist and Confucian theories. This philosophical underpinning is a recurring theme throughout his works, possibly contributing to their enduring appeal and fascination.

In this article, I aim to explore this less famous but very important aspect of Su Shi’s poetry, sharing insights that might otherwise remain overlooked.

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What does life everywhere resemble?
Perhaps it is like wild geese treading through snowy mud.
Occasionally, a claw print is left on the mud,
Once the geese fly away, who considers east or west?

An old monk has died, replaced by a new pagoda,
With the ruined wall, no old inscriptions can be seen.
Do you still recall the rough days of yore?
The road is long, the weary donkey brays.

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Su Shi wrote this poem during his travels in Mianchi, a location rich in historical significance. The poem reflects on the transient nature of human endeavors and the passage of time, themes that are recurrent in Su Shi’s work, often imbued with his personal experiences of exile and political strife.

Su Shi is masterful in his use of natural imagery to mirror human emotions and life’s transience. The metaphor of wild geese treading through snowy mud effectively captures the essence of fleeting moments; the geese leave temporary marks which are soon erased, just as human impacts are often ephemeral. The poet emphasizes the insignificance of direction once the goal is out of sight – a reflection on the pointlessness of worldly concerns once life’s impermanence is accepted.

The second stanza of the poem shifts from the natural landscape to human-made structures and the inevitable decay that accompanies them. The death of the monk and the erection of a new pagoda symbolize the cycle of life and death, of forgetting and remembering that defines human history. The ruined wall and the faded old inscriptions represent the loss of history and the gradual fading of human achievements into obscurity.

The poem concludes with a question about the memory of past hardships, evoking a sense of nostalgia and the emotional weight of reminiscence. The image of the long road and the braying tired donkey not only conveys physical and emotional exhaustion but also the perseverance needed to continue despite adversities.

“Recalling Old Times at Mianchi” by Su Shi is a contemplative piece that delves into the themes of impermanence, memory, and the existential journey of life. Through the use of compelling metaphors and vivid imagery, Su Shi connects the reader with the universal truths about the fleeting nature of existence and the enduring human spirit to persevere. This poem stands as a testament to Su Shi’s philosophical depth and his ability to intertwine personal experience with universal truths, making it a valuable piece for both historical and literary scholarship.