明 Ming · 诗 Poem
石将军战场歌
Song of General Stone's Battlefield
清风店南逢父老,告我己巳年间事。
店北犹存古战场,遗镞尚带勤王字。
忆昔蒙尘实惨怛,反覆势如风雨至。
紫荆关头昼吹角,杀气军声满幽朔。
胡儿饮马彰义门,烽火夜照燕山云。
内有于尚书,外有石将军。
石家官军若雷电,天清野旷来酣战。
朝廷既失紫荆关,吾民岂保清风店。
Show full original poem
清风店南逢父老,告我己巳年间事。
店北犹存古战场,遗镞尚带勤王字。
忆昔蒙尘实惨怛,反覆势如风雨至。
紫荆关头昼吹角,杀气军声满幽朔。
胡儿饮马彰义门,烽火夜照燕山云。
内有于尚书,外有石将军。
石家官军若雷电,天清野旷来酣战。
朝廷既失紫荆关,吾民岂保清风店。
牵爷负子无处逃,哭声震天风怒号。
儿女床头伏鼓角,野人屋上看旌旄。
将军此时挺戈出,杀敌不异草与蒿。
追北归来血洗刀,白日不动苍天高。
万里烟尘一剑扫,父子英雄古来少。
单于痛哭倒马关,羯奴半死飞狐道。
处处欢声噪鼓旗,家家牛酒犒王师。
休夸汉室嫖姚将,岂说唐家郭子仪。
沉吟此事六十春,此地经过泪满巾。
黄云落日古骨白,沙砾惨淡愁行人。
行人来折战场柳,下马坐望居庸口。
却忆千官迎驾初,千乘万骑下皇都;
乾坤得见中兴主,日月重开载造图。
枭雄不数云台士,杨石齐名天下无!
呜呼杨石今已无,安得再生此辈西备胡。
North of the inn still lies the old battlefield; a leftover arrow still bears the words 'succor the king'.
I recall when the sovereign was soiled in dust—truly bitter; the enemy's turnabout came like wind and rain.
At the Zijing Pass the horn blew by day; killing air and army shouts filled the northern frontier.
Hu boys watered horses at Zhangyi Gate; beacon fire lit the Yan Mountain clouds by night.
Within was Minister Yu, without was General Shi.
General Shi's troops came like thunder and lightning; under clear sky and open wild they fought with zest.
Since the court had lost the Zijing Pass, how could our folk keep Qingfeng Inn?
Fathers dragged, sons borne, with no place to flee; cries shook the heavens, the wind roared in wrath.
Children by the bed heard the drums; country folk on their roofs saw the banners.
Then the general thrust forth his spear; he slew the foe no different than grass and wormwood.
Chasing the beaten, he returned with a blood-washed blade; the white sun unmoved, the vast heaven high.
Ten thousand li of dust swept by a single sword; father and son heroes rare since olden times.
The chieftain wept at Daoma Pass; the Jie slaves half dead on the Feihu road.
Everywhere joyful shouts rose with drum and flag; each house gave beef and wine to cheer the royal army.
Boast not of Han's Piaoyao general; speak not of Tang's Guo Ziyi.
I muse on these things sixty springs; passing this place my kerchief is full of tears.
Yellow clouds, the setting sun, white the old bones; the grit dim and drear grieves the traveler.
The traveler comes to break a willow of the battlefield, dismounts and sits gazing toward the Juyong mouth.
Then I recall when the thousand officials first met the carriage, when a thousand chariots and ten thousand riders descended the royal capital;
When heaven and earth saw again a restoring lord, and sun and moon reopened the chart of a new founding.
Outstanding heroes outnumber not the Yuntai men; Yang and Shi famed alike, none under heaven!
Alas, Yang and Shi are now no more—how can such men be born again to guard the west against the Hu?
Meaning
South of Qingfeng Inn I met an old man who told me of the events of the Jisi year. North of the inn still lies the old battlefield, and a leftover arrow still bears the words 'succor the king'. I recall how bitter it was when the sovereign was brought to dust, the enemy's assault coming like wind and rain. At Zijing Pass horns sounded by day; killing air and army shouts filled the northern frontier. Hu horsemen watered their mounts at Zhangyi Gate, and beacon fire lit the Yan Mountain clouds by night. Within the city Minister Yu held firm, without it General Shi fought in blood. Shi's troops came like thunder and lightning and fought with zest under clear sky and open wild. Once the court lost Zijing Pass, how could the people keep Qingfeng Inn? Fathers and sons fled with no refuge, cries shaking heaven as the wind roared. Children by their beds heard the drums; country folk on rooftops saw the banners. The general thrust forth his spear and slew the enemy like grass; returning from pursuit with a blood-washed blade beneath the high unmoved sun. A single sword swept ten thousand li of dust; father and son heroes rare of old. The chieftain wept at Daoma Pass; the Jie slaves lay half dead on Feihu road. Everywhere shouts rose with drum and flag, each house offering beef and wine to the royal army. Boast not Han's Piaoyao general, speak not of Tang's Guo Ziyi. I have mused on this sixty springs; passing here my kerchief fills with tears. Yellow clouds and setting sun whiten the old bones; dim grit grieves the traveler. The traveler breaks a willow and sits gazing toward Juyong. I recall the thousand officials meeting the carriage, the myriad riders descending the capital, when heaven and earth saw a restoring lord and sun and moon reopened a new founding. Outstanding heroes surpass not the Yuntai men; Yang and Shi famed alike, none under heaven. Alas, Yang and Shi are gone—how to birth again such men to guard the west against the Hu?
在清风店南遇见父老,他向我诉说己巳年间的战事。店北还留着古战场,残箭上仍带着「勤王」的字样。回想当年帝王遭难实在惨痛,敌势反复如风雨骤至。紫荆关上白昼吹响号角,杀气军声弥漫幽朔。胡人战马饮于彰义门外,烽火夜夜照亮燕山云层。城内有于谦尚书守御,城外有石亨将军血战。石家官军来势如雷电,天清野旷痛击来敌。朝廷既已失守紫荆关,百姓又怎能保住清风店?百姓牵父负子无处可逃,哭声震天、朔风怒号。孩童卧床能听见鼓角,乡人登屋顶可见旗帜。将军此时挺戈而出,杀敌如割草蒿般轻易。追击败兵归来刀染血,白日不动、苍天高远。万里烟尘一剑扫清,父子英雄古来少有。单于在倒马关痛哭,羯奴半死在飞狐道。处处欢声伴着鼓旗,家家备酒犒劳王师。休要夸汉室嫖姚校尉,岂屑说唐代郭子仪。沉吟此事已六十春,重过此地泪湿衣巾。黄云落日下白骨惨白,沙砾惨淡愁杀行人。行人折下战场柳枝,下马坐望居庸关口。又忆当年千官迎驾,千乘万骑直下皇都;终见乾坤再造中兴主,日月重开缔造宏图。枭雄岂数云台诸将,杨石齐名天下绝无!可叹杨石今日已无,怎得再生此辈西备胡人。
Appreciation
The whole poem is in seven-character song form, blending narrative, scene, and argument. It opens by 'meeting an old man' to draw out the memory, its waves rising layer by layer; 'Hu boys watered horses at Zhangyi Gate; beacon fire lit the Yan Mountain clouds by night' builds the battlefield's horror through color and sound; 'he slew the foe no different than grass' uses hyperbole to the utmost for his valor. The close turns from rousing to desolate: 'yellow clouds, the setting sun, white the old bones' ends feeling through scene, deep and restrained, gaining Du Fu's deep, grand method while keeping its own rousing, candid air. The whole carries a surging breath and ringing rhythm, standing alone among Ming archaist yuefu, a truly grand seven-character ancient by Li Kongtong.
【白话串讲】 李梦阳在清风店听老人讲1449年土木堡之变:“店北犹存古战场,遗镞尚带勤王字”——古战场上还捡得到带字的箭镞。“内有于尚书”——那年,于谦站了出来。一首歌,记下明史上最危急的一页。 【意象与手法】全诗以七言歌行为体,融叙事、写景、议论于一炉。起以「逢父老」引出回忆,波澜层生;「胡儿饮马彰义门,烽火夜照燕山云」以色彩与声光造战场惨烈;「杀敌不异草与蒿」用夸张极写其勇。结处由激昂转入苍凉,「黄云落日古骨白」以景结情,沉郁顿挫,得杜甫沉雄之法而自有激昂磊落之气。 【情感与主旨】此诗约作于明武宗正德年间,李梦阳借父老之口追述正统十四年(己巳,1449)「土木堡之变」后瓦剌兵临北京、于谦督师守城、石亨(石将军)率军于清风店一带血战退敌的史事。诗人以「己巳年间事」起笔,将当下与往昔叠合,于歌行体中融咏史与抒怀。诗既赞石亨叔侄之勇,亦暗含对国势陵夷、良将难再的忧思,故有「安得再生此辈西备胡」之叹。 【名句点睛】本诗常考:①概括石将军形象——勇毅亲民、出身草莽而忠勇,如「杀敌不异草与蒿」之勇、「牵爷负子无处逃」所见之民情;②「蒙尘」「惨怛」等词的凝重;③结句「安得再生此辈西备胡」的现实关怀;④歌行体叙事、写景、议论交融的手法。
Background
This poem was likely written in the Zhengde era of the Ming Wuzong; Li Mengyang, through an old man's mouth, recalls the history of the Zhengtong fourteenth year (Jisi, 1449) 'Tumu Fortress Incident', when the Oirat came to the gates of Beijing and Yu Qian led the defense, while Shi Heng fought bloody at Qingfeng Inn. The poet overlays present and past from the opening 'events of the Jisi year', blending history and feeling in the song form. The poem praises the valor of Shi Heng and his nephew, yet also hints a worry that the state declines and good generals are hard to find again—hence the sigh 'how can such men be born again to guard the west against the Hu'.
此诗约作于明武宗正德年间,李梦阳借父老之口追述明英宗正统十四年(己巳,1449)「土木堡之变」后的北京保卫战。是年秋,瓦剌首领也先率军南侵,明英宗亲征,于土木堡(今河北怀来东)兵败被俘,史称土木之变;瓦剌军乘胜直逼北京,京城震动。兵部尚书于谦力主抗战,拥立景泰帝,调集重兵守城;武清伯石亨(后封忠国公)率军出战,与瓦剌军战于德胜门、清风店一带,配合于谦取得北京保卫战的胜利,瓦剌被迫退兵,后也先送还英宗。石亨之侄石彪亦为战将,屡立战功,故诗称「父子英雄」。诗人于数十年后经清风店战场,闻父老述说旧事,抚今追昔而作此诗。诗既赞石亨叔侄之勇,亦暗含对正德年间国势陵夷、边备废弛、良将难再的忧思,故结以「安得再生此辈西备胡」之叹,是咏史而兼刺时之作。此诗所咏的北京保卫战,是明王朝由盛转衰的关键一役:土木之变中,明军主力尽丧,瓦剌兵临城下,若非于谦、石亨等力挽狂澜,社稷几倾;诗人于正德年间重经此地,正值朝政日非、边患再起之时,抚今追昔,感慨尤深,遂借父老之口,将六十年前的壮烈与当下的忧思熔铸一炉。
Art
The whole poem is in seven-character song form, blending narrative, scene, and argument. It opens by 'meeting an old man' to draw out the memory, its waves rising layer by layer; 'Hu boys watered horses at Zhangyi Gate; beacon fire lit the Yan Mountain clouds by night' builds the battlefield's horror through color and sound; 'he slew the foe no different than grass' uses hyperbole to the utmost for his valor. The close turns from rousing to desolate: 'yellow clouds, the setting sun, white the old bones' ends feeling through scene, deep and restrained, gaining Du Fu's deep, grand method while keeping its own rousing, candid air. The whole carries a surging breath and ringing rhythm.
全诗以七言歌行为体,融叙事、写景、议论于一炉,章法开阖有致。起以「清风店南逢父老,告我己巳年间事」,以耳闻带出回忆,真实感与历史纵深兼具;「遗镞尚带勤王字」以战场遗物作证,细节摄人。中段写战事,层层推进:「忆昔蒙尘实惨怛」总起,「胡儿饮马彰义门,烽火夜照燕山云」以色彩与声光造京城危殆之势,「内有于尚书,外有石将军」以对句写将相协力,「石家官军若雷电」以下写石军酣战,至「杀敌不异草与蒿」用夸张极写其勇;「单于痛哭倒马关,羯奴半死飞狐道」以敌之惨败衬我之全胜。结处由激昂转入苍凉:「黄云落日古骨白,沙砾惨淡愁行人」以景结情,白骨黄沙,惨淡愁人;末段忆迎驾中兴之事,归于「杨石今已无」之叹,沉郁顿挫,得杜甫沉雄之法而自有激昂磊落之气,诚空同七古之雄篇。全诗以「己巳年间事」为经,以战场行踪为纬:起于逢父老而闻往事,中经战场遗物而忆战况,终于亲临战场而发感慨,时间上今昔交错,空间上京郊往复,章法开阖自如;其间叙事、写景、议论三者交融,以声光色相写战场之惨烈,以夸张对比写将军之英武,以景语收束写兴亡之苍凉,是明人七古中叙事艺术最成熟的作品之一。
Allusions
The poem uses few but apt allusions. 'Minister Yu' refers to Yu Qian, 'General Shi' to Shi Heng, both recorded as they were; 'succor the king' hints the old meaning of rising to rescue the sovereign. 'Piaoyao general' uses the tale of Huo Qubing as Piaoyao captain; 'Guo Ziyi' is the restoring famous general; using Han and Tang generals to set off Shi Heng, saying 'boast not' and 'speak not' means his merit surpasses them. 'Yang and Shi' refers to Yang Hong and Shi Heng, their joint fame recorded in the Ming History. The poem proves history with history, weighty without piling allusion.
诗中用典不多而精切,多涉史实:「于尚书」指于谦,时任兵部尚书;「石将军」指石亨,皆实录其人。「勤王」古义为起兵救援君王,《左传》已有其义,此处以遗镞上「勤王」字样写勤王之师,暗合古义。「蒙尘」本指天子流亡或遭难(《左传》「天子蒙尘于外」),此处暗指英宗被俘之辱,凝重沉痛。「嫖姚将」用汉霍去病为嫖姚校尉之典,「郭子仪」为唐中兴名将,以汉唐名将衬石亨之勇,谓「休夸」「岂说」,则其功更胜。「杨石」指杨洪、石亨,二人皆正统年间名将,见《明史》;「云台士」用东汉明帝图画云台二十八将之典,谓枭雄不数云台诸将,杨石之功足与之并。全诗以史证史,典重而不堆砌,是明人拟古乐府中使事精当之作。嫖姚将之典,写其勇可比霍去病;郭子仪之典,写其功足侔中兴名臣——而「休夸」「岂说」四字,又把这汉唐名将轻轻压下,极写石亨之不可及,用典之妙,在于以他典衬托主典、以古衬今;云台士之典更将石亨置于东汉功臣的行列,其颂赞之至,可谓无以复加,可见诗人对北京保卫战诸功臣的由衷景仰。
Commentary
The Si Ku summary says Kongtong's poetry 'led the Du form to correct the light and fawning'; this song is rousing and candid, long chanted within the realm. Shen Deqian praises it 'attending the time and mourning the disorder, feeling shown in the words'. Yet Qian Qianyi and Cheng Mengyang also mock that it 'imitates Shaoling only in wording' and 'leans wholly on clause and tone, where is the open spirit'; learning Du it caught but the form. In sum, its air is grand, its rhythm solemn and stirring, forming its own manner among Ming poetry.
《四库全书总目提要》评空同诗「倡始杜体,以矫轻靡」,此歌行激昂磊落,久为海内传诵。沈德潜《明诗别裁》评其「抚时念乱,情见乎词」,以为得杜甫《悲陈陶》《北征》之遗意。然钱谦益《列朝诗集小传》亦讥李梦阳「摹仿少陵皆在字句之间」「全倚句字挣挫,安有机神开阖」,谓其学杜仅得形貌、未得其神。要之,此诗气象雄阔、音节悲壮,叙战争之惨烈、写将帅之忠勇、发良将难再之叹,情辞并茂,在明人拟古乐府中自成一格,与《梁甫吟》等同为李梦阳咏史歌行的代表作。其以当代史事入歌行、以杜甫笔法写明事,亦体现前七子「文必秦汉、诗必盛唐」的复古主张在创作实践中的得失。清人论明诗,于李梦阳七古多推此篇,以为空同集中最沉郁顿挫之作;其学杜之处,在叙事的章法、写景的苍茫、议论的感慨,而非字句的模拟,正得杜诗之神髓。此诗以当代史入歌行,继杜甫《北征》《哀江头》之余绪,开明清咏史诗写当代大事的风气,在中国叙事诗史上占有重要地位。
Prosody
Line by line
清风店南逢父老,告我己巳年间事。
South of Qingfeng Inn I met an old man, who told me of the year Jisi.
在清风店南遇见父老,他向我诉说己巳年间的战事。
South of Qingfeng Market I met an old villager; he told me of the events of the Jisi year.
以「逢父老」起笔,由耳闻带出全篇,真实感与历史纵深兼具:清风店点战场之地,父老是亲历者,告我己巳年间事,则六十年前的战事经由乡老之口重新复活。两句为全诗设下叙事框架——不是我亲见,而是我听闻,一层转述,更增沧桑之感;「己巳」以干支纪年,凝重而含蓄,暗指土木之变的国难。此联开篇平实,如杜甫「有客有客字子美」般以叙述起兴,为后文的惨烈追忆与激昂颂赞蓄势,是全诗叙事的起点。
The old man. South of Qingfeng Inn I met an old man, who told me of the year Jisi. The old villager's tale of the Jisi year (the Tumu crisis) is the frame. To have met the old villager would be a frame; the south-of-Qingfeng-Inn-I-met-an-old-man-who-told-me-of-the-year-Jisi is the frame.
胡儿饮马彰义门,烽火夜照燕山云。
The Tartar boys watered their horses at Zhangyi Gate; beacon fires lit the Yanshan clouds by night.
胡人战马在彰义门外饮马,烽火夜夜照亮燕山云层。
The Tartar riders watered their horses at Zhangyi Gate; beacon fires at night lit the Yanshan clouds.
视听结合写京城危殆,为下文石将军死战蓄势:胡儿饮马彰义门,写瓦剌骑兵已迫近北京城下,彰义门为京城外城之门,敌骑饮马于此,京师震动;烽火夜照燕山云,以烽火之光照亮燕山云层写军情之紧急,烽火连天,夜色尽赤。两句一实一虚、一近一远,以敌势之炽写危局之亟,色彩(烽火之赤)与声音(军声之动)交织,把京城保卫战前夕的紧张气氛渲染到极致,为「内有于尚书,外有石将军」的转出蓄足了势。
The gate. The Tartar boys watered their horses at Zhangyi Gate; beacon fires lit the Yanshan clouds by night. The enemy watering horses at the gate and the beacon-lit clouds are the peril. To have watered horses at the gate would be a peril; the tartar-boys-watered-their-horses-at-Zhangyi-Gate-beacon-fires-lit-the-Yanshan-clouds-by-night is the peril.
将军此时挺戈出,杀敌不异草与蒿。
Then the general charged out with his halberd, killing the foe as easily as reaping grass.
将军此时挺戈而出,杀敌如同割草蒿一般轻易。
Then the general strode forth with his halberd, cutting down the enemy like grass and weeds.
夸张手法极写其勇,是全诗塑造石将军形象的核心句:将军此时挺戈出,写其于危难之际挺身而出,一个「挺」字见其英武决绝;杀敌不异草与蒿,以割草蒿比喻杀敌,极言其勇猛无敌——敌人在将军戈下,如草蒿之易刈,视敌之轻正见己之勇。两句一写其行、一写其威,动作与效果并现,把石亨于国难当头时的英雄气概写到极致;「不异」二字的不屑口吻,更见其气吞强虏的豪迈,是歌行体以夸张写人物的典型笔法。
The charge. Then the general charged out with his halberd, killing the foe as easily as reaping grass. The charging halberd and the foe cut like grass are the hero. To have charged with the halberd would be a charge; the then-the-general-charged-out-with-his-halberd-killing-the-foe-as-easily-as-reaping-grass is the charge.
黄云落日古骨白,沙砾惨淡愁行人。
Yellow clouds, setting sun, ancient bones white; sand and gravel in the cold light grieve the traveler.
黄云落日下白骨惨白,沙砾惨淡,愁杀行人。
Yellow clouds, setting sun, ancient bones showing white; the gravel lies dreary and saddens the traveler.
以景结情,由激昂转苍凉,全诗情感的低回处:追述完六十年前的战事,忽回到眼前的战场——黄云落日,天光惨淡,古战场上白骨历历,惨白刺目;沙砾满目,行人见之而愁。两句以黄、白、惨淡的色彩写战场的荒凉,白骨无言而战争之惨自见:当年杀敌如草蒿的赫赫战功,如今只剩白骨黄沙。此联承「沉吟此事六十春,此地经过泪满巾」而来,由耳闻之战的激昂转入亲见之场的悲凉,为末段「安得再生此辈」的忧思定下苍凉的底色,深得杜甫以景写悲之法。
The bones. Yellow clouds, setting sun, ancient bones white; sand and gravel in the cold light grieve the traveler. The ancient white bones and the dreary gravel are the desolation. To have shown the ancient bones would be a desolation; the yellow-clouds-setting-sun-ancient-bones-white-sand-and-gravel-in-the-cold-light-grieve-the-traveler is the desolation.
安得再生此辈西备胡。
Oh, to have such men born again to guard the west against the barbarians.
怎能再出生这样的将士,去抵御西方的胡人。
How can such men be born again to guard the west against the Hu?
结句由史及今,寄寓对边防良将的渴盼,沉郁作结:呜呼杨石今已无,名将凋零;安得再生此辈西备胡——何处再寻这样的英雄去镇守西陲、抵御胡骑?一声长叹,把咏史之情落到当代之忧:正德年间,边备废弛、阉宦用事,诗人抚今追昔,痛感良将难再、国势难振。结句以问作结,不求回答,而忧思自见;由六十年前的家国之变,推到眼前的家国之忧,全诗的咏史最终归于刺时,格局由颂赞英雄升华为关怀国运,是此诗思想深度的所在,也是明人拟古乐府「借古讽今」传统的体现。
The wish. Oh, to have such men born again to guard the west against the barbarians. The wish for such men to be born again is the close. To have wished for such men would be a wish; the oh-to-have-such-men-born-again-to-guard-the-west-against-the-barbarians is the wish.
Study
Word focus
Related Reading
Both are Kongtong's archaist history-voicing works, both grand in air, learning Du to gain the bone.
李梦阳《梁甫吟》「父母在时全盛时,归来不见家……」,借乐府旧题写身世之感与世态炎凉;《石将军战场歌》以歌行写当代战史,颂石亨之忠勇。两诗同为李梦阳拟古咏史之作,皆气象沉雄、学杜得其骨,可见其复古主张在创作中的一贯实践。差异在:梁甫吟承乐府旧题写个人身世,感慨深沉;石将军战场歌以新题写当代国事,激昂磊落。两诗对读,可见空同七古既能写「小我」之悲,亦能写「大我」之忧,风格多样而骨力一贯。
登金陵雨花台望大江 Climbing Jinling's Yuhua Terrace to View the Great River 高启 · 同以江山形胜入史,咏史怀古 Same (theme)Both enter history through river-mountain grandeur, voicing rise-and-fall in history poems.
高启《登金陵雨花台望大江》「大江来从万山中,山势尽与江流东……前三国,后六朝,草生宫阙何萧萧」,登台望江而怀古,写六朝兴亡;李梦阳《石将军战场歌》经战场而咏当代战史,写明室存亡。两诗同属明人咏史之作,皆以山川形胜或战场遗迹为触媒,由景入史、由史寄慨。差异在:高启怀六朝之古,感慨历史循环之悲;李梦阳咏当代之变,寄寓良将难再之忧。一为历史之思,一为现实之虑,可见明初与明中叶咏史诗的不同关怀。
北征 The Northern Expedition 杜甫 · 同以歌行写丧乱之史 Related readingCompare this related work with the poem above through theme, imagery, tone, and emotional movement.
杜甫《北征》「乾坤含疮痍,忧虞何时毕……夜深经战场,寒月照白骨」,以长篇五古写安史之乱的疮痍与战场的白骨;李梦阳《石将军战场歌》以七言歌行写土木之变后的战场与白骨。两诗同写国难与战场,同为以诗存史的「诗史」精神,杜甫的「寒月照白骨」与李梦阳的「黄云落日古骨白」意象一脉相承。差异在:杜诗以身历写之,沉郁顿挫、忧思深广;李诗以耳闻写之,激昂磊落、颂赞鲜明。比较两诗,可见明人学杜之得与失,及咏史歌行由唐至明的流变。