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宋 Song · 诗 Poem

送陈汝玉谒三川大资政左丞吴公

Seeing Off Chen Ruyu on His Audience with the Three-Rivers Grand Academician and Left Vice-Minister Wu

张方平

Zhang Fangping

荐士recommending scholars 治平orderly peace

吴公昔作河南尹，首唱儒风荐贾生。
今日治平承祖德，可无推引助文明。

Lord Wu once served as Intendant of Henan, first to champion the Confucian way and recommend a Jia Sheng.
Today, in orderly peace, he inherits his ancestors' virtue — how could he lack the pushing-forward that aids civilization?

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Meaning

A short seeing-off poem urging a senior official to recommend talented men. By praising Lord Wu's past sponsorship of scholars and his inherited virtue, the poet hopes the visit will lead to Chen Ruyu's advancement. Its real subject is not parting but the Northern Song practice of using verse as a letter of introduction.

吴公昔日作河南尹，首倡儒风、举荐如贾生般的才士。今日治平承祖宗之德，岂可无推引后进以助文明之举。

Appreciation

A seven-character quatrain of only four lines yet complete in structure. The first two lines recount the past — Wu's old office and his championing of Confucianism and recommendation of talent; the last two turn to the present and close with a rhetorical question urging him to continue recommending. Plain in language yet thorough in intent, it is a Song-style seeing-off poem that conveys counsel through argument rather than scenery.

【白话串讲】张方平送陈汝玉去拜见吴公：“吴公昔作河南尹，首唱儒风荐贾生”。“今日治平承祖德，可无推引助文明”——他写吴公的知遇之恩。【意象与手法】此诗七绝，仅四句而章法完密。首句「吴公昔作河南尹」叙其旧官，次句「首唱儒风荐贾生」颂其崇儒荐士，「贾生」以汉贾谊比被荐者，典雅切事；三句「今日治平承祖德」由古入今，转到当世；四句「可无推引助文明」以反诘作结，劝吴公继祖德而引后进。前二述昔，后二勉今，以「昔—今」为轴，以「荐贾生」与「助文明」呼应，短章而有讽劝之致。【情感与主旨】此诗送陈汝玉谒见吴公，借颂吴公「儒风」「推引」之风以冀汲引，既写北宋士大夫以诗文为谒见、荐达之媒的交游风气，亦见方平「荐士」为清流所尚之念。主旨不在伤别，而在勉臣推引、以助文明。【名句点睛】「可无推引助文明」以反诘收束，表面问「岂可无」，实则是劝「当有」，把荐士之功系于「文明」大局，比直陈「愿公荐士」委婉得多，是赠言得体的写法。

Background

Zhang Fangping's quatrain sees Chen Ruyu off to an audience with the 'Three-Rivers Grand Academician and Left Vice-Minister Wu.' Three-Rivers refers to Henan (ancient Yuzhou called Three-Rivers); Lord Wu was likely a senior colleague who had served as Intendant of Henan and was known for honoring Confucianism and recommending scholars. 'Left Vice-Minister' and 'Grand Academician' are high Song civil titles. Chen Ruyu was presumably a younger man Zhang knew; Zhang wrote the poem urging him to call, hoping to secure patronage by praising Wu's sponsorship. The poem belongs to Zhang's time at court when he minded the scholarly class, reflecting the mid-Northern-Song custom of using poetry as a medium of introduction and recommendation, and that recommending scholars was prized among the upright circle. The 'Jia Sheng' metaphor points to the visitor's hope of being recommended.

张方平此七绝送陈汝玉谒见「三川大资政左丞吴公」。三川指河南（豫州古称三川），吴公当为方平同僚前辈，曾官河南尹，以崇儒荐士著称。「左丞」为尚书左丞，「大资政」为资政殿大学士，皆宋之高层文衔。陈汝玉殆方平所识后进，方平作诗嘱其往谒，借颂吴公推引之风以冀汲引。此诗当在方平居朝、留心士类之时，反映北宋中期士大夫以诗文为谒见、荐达之媒的交游风气，亦见「荐士」为当时清流所尚。诗中「贾生」之喻，正点出谒见者期待被荐引的用心。方平居朝而留心士类，此诗正见其以诗文维系士林、推引后进之用心。北宋取士重荐达，大臣以诗为谒、以诗为荐，乃一时之风；方平不作寒暄，而直颂儒风推引，既合身份，亦见其以文教自任之念。陈汝玉得此诗以往，其谒见之道已先被点明，此正是宋人交游诗之实用功能，亦可见清流交游中以雅道相勉之习。方平居朝留心士类，以诗为谒、以诗为荐，乃北宋清流交游之实用；不作寒暄而直颂儒风，既合身份亦见以文教自任之念，于研究宋代荐达诗颇有样本意义。北宋以诗为谒、以诗为荐，乃清流交游之实用；方平此诗不作寒暄而直颂儒风推引，既合身份亦见以文教自任，于研究宋初交游诗与荐达文化足为小影，亦可见台阁老臣驭短章之雅。方平以台阁老臣之笔写送谒，温厚得体而不迫切；其借颂吴公儒风推引以冀汲引，正是北宋士大夫以诗为谒、以雅道相勉之实用功能，于研究宋初交游诗与荐达文化，足为清晰之小影。

Art

This seven-character quatrain, only four lines, is yet complete in structure. The first line 'Lord Wu once served as Intendant of Henan' recounts his old office; the second 'first to champion the Confucian way and recommend a Jia Sheng' praises his honoring of Confucianism and recommending of scholars, using 'Jia Sheng' to compare the recommended man — elegant and apt. The third 'today, in orderly peace, he inherits ancestors' virtue' turns from past to present; the fourth 'how could he lack the pushing-forward that aids civilization' closes with a rhetorical question, urging Wu to continue his ancestors' virtue and draw forward the young. The first two state the past, the last two encourage the present, using past-present as axis and 'recommend Jia Sheng' echoing 'aid civilization.' Though short, it carries admonitory counsel. Its language is plain yet intent thorough — a Song seeing-off poem conducting counsel through argument, writing not scenery but friendship and expectation. The seven-quatrain normally suits scenery and emotion, yet Zhang uniquely conducts the parting address through argument, not bound by scene-language — a clear instance of the Song manner taking meaning as principal.

此诗七言绝句，仅四句而章法完密。首句「吴公昔作河南尹」叙其旧官，次句「首唱儒风荐贾生」颂其崇儒荐士，「贾生」以汉贾谊比被荐者，典雅切事；三句「今日治平承祖德」由古入今，转到当世；四句「可无推引助文明」以反诘作结，劝吴公继祖德而引后进。前二述昔，后二勉今，以「昔—今」为轴，以「荐贾生」与「助文明」呼应，短章而有讽劝之致。语言平易而用意周，是宋人送谒诗以议论行赠言之体，不写景物而写交游与期许。短章而具讽劝之致，前二述昔之崇儒荐士，后二勉今之推引文明，以「昔—今」为经纬，以「贾生—文明」为呼应。七绝体本宜写景抒情，方平独以议论行赠言，不为景语所囿，正是宋调「以意为主」之显例。其语平易而用意周匝，于二十八字中藏颂人、勉今、讽劝三层，章法之密在唐人绝句中少见，足见台阁老臣驭短章之能。七绝本宜写景，方平独以议论行赠言，于二十八字藏颂人、勉今、讽劝三层，章法之密在唐人绝句中少见，足见台阁老臣驭短章之能与宋调以意为主之常。七绝以议论行赠言，藏颂人勉今讽劝三层，章法密于唐人绝句，足见宋调以意为主、以理收束之常，亦台阁老臣写短章之能事，比景语送别更见交游之实用。

Allusions

Two allusions. First, 'Intendant of Henan' (Henan Yin): a Han office of the capital prefect; Tang borrowed it for the eastern capital Luoyang's governor; here meaning Wu once guarded Henan — using an ancient office for the present one, showing elegance. Second, 'Jia Sheng': Jia Yi, an early-Han Confucian official, young and versed in many schools, summoned by Emperor Wen as an Erudite, repeatedly memorializing; later generations use 'Jia Sheng' for a young talented man. Zhang uses 'recommend a Jia Sheng' to compare Wu's elevation of the young, apt both to 'Confucian way' and to Chen Ruyu's audience. Third, an implicit use of 'ancestors' virtue': the Northern Song valued illustrious families; Wu's 'inheriting ancestors' virtue' means his family's pure legacy can be continued, urging him to model on his forebears and recommend the scholarly class. All allusions center on the one idea of recommending scholars, unbranching, precise in a short piece.

用典二处。其一，「河南尹」：汉制河南尹为京都长官，唐借指东都洛阳牧，此谓吴公曾守河南；以古官称今职，见典雅。其二，「贾生」：贾谊，汉初儒臣，年少通诸家之书，文帝召为博士，屡上疏言事，后世以「贾生」称少年才士。方平以「荐贾生」喻吴公举拔后进，既切「儒风」又切陈汝玉之「谒」。其三是暗用「祖德」：北宋重阀阅，吴公「承祖德」谓其家世清芬、德泽可继，劝其以先德为范推引士类。诸典皆围绕「荐士」一意，不枝不蔓，短章而用典精。「河南尹」以古官称今职，见典雅而不失亲切；「贾生」以汉贤比所拔之士，既切儒风，又暗点谒见受引之旨，比直说「荐才」远为蕴藉。北宋重阀阅，「祖德」之语亦非虚设，劝吴公以先德为范而推引士类。二典一暗用，皆围绕「荐士」一意，短章而用典精当，无冗赘之病，可觇宋人七绝用典之度。河南尹以古官称今职见典雅，贾生以汉贤比所拔之士既切儒风又暗点谒引，祖德之语劝以先范推引，二典皆围绕荐士一意而短章用典精当。河南尹古官称今职、贾生汉贤比士、祖德劝以先范，二典一暗用皆围绕荐士，短章用典精当而无冗赘，可觇宋人七绝以雅语写实之度与清流相勉之习。

Commentary

Though short, this poem is a vignette of the Northern Song custom of poetry as introduction. Zhang does not bid farewell with scenery but directly praises the audience's 'Confucian way' and 'pushing-forward,' fitting the Song esteem for friendship and pure discussion. It shares spirit with Ouyang Xiu's 'Memorial Recommending the Commoner Su Xun' and Wang Anshi's 'Memorial to Emperor Renzong,' yet Zhang renders it in rhyme, more gentle and elegant. The closing 'how could he lack the pushing-forward that aids civilization' uses a rhetorical question, far more tactful than directly saying 'may you recommend scholars' — a proper way to give counsel. The Qing 'Song Shi Chao' says Zhang's poetry has a profound, elegant manner, and these 28 characters show his unpretentious, unhurried courtly air.

此诗虽短，却是北宋「以诗为谒」之风的小品。方平不以景物送别，而直颂受谒者之「儒风」「推引」，正合宋人重交游、重清议之习。与欧阳修《荐布衣苏洵状》、王安石《上仁宗皇帝言事书》之荐士文字同气，而方平以韵语出之，更见温雅。「可无推引助文明」一结用反诘，比直陈「愿公荐士」委婉得多，是赠言得体的写法。清人《宋诗钞》论方平诗「气体渊雅」，此二十八字正见其不矜才、不迫切的台阁气象。又诗中「贾生」一喻，开南宋以古贤比今人之先声，于研究宋代荐达诗有样本意义。此诗虽仅二十八字，却是北宋「以诗为谒」之风的小品，于研究宋代荐达诗颇有样本意义。方平不以景物送别，直颂受谒者之儒风推引，与欧阳修、王安石之荐士文字同气，而以韵语出之更见温雅。清人谓方平气体渊雅，此诗不矜才、不迫切，正其台阁气象。末以反诘收，比直陈愿公荐士委婉得多，是赠言得体之范，亦宋调七绝以理收之常。此诗以韵语写荐达，比欧阳修、王安石之荐士文更见温雅；末以反诘收，比直陈愿公荐士委婉得多，是赠言得体之范，亦宋调七绝以理收之常。此诗以韵语写荐达，比欧王荐士文更温雅；末以反诘收比直陈委婉，是赠言得体之范，亦宋调七绝以理收之常，于研究北宋台阁诗与士风颇有样本。清人谓方平气体渊雅，此短章不矜才、不尖薄，以反诘收束而意婉，正其台阁赠言之本色；置诸北宋送谒诗之列，与长篇之赠行各有体貌，而方平独以温厚称，可觇一代儒臣论交之风度。

Prosody

Form Seven-character quatrain七言绝句

Rhyme Level-tone geng (庚) rhyme (sheng, ming), one rhyme throughout.平声庚韵（生、明），一韵到底。

Tone pattern The seven-quatrain follows level-oblique rules; the first line takes a rhyme, the latter two lines continue the tonal pattern.七绝依平仄，『吴公昔作河南尹，首唱儒风荐贾生。今日治平承祖德，可无推引助文明』，首句入韵，后二句平仄相承。

Reading note This seven-quatrain rhymes in the level-tone geng rhyme; the geng rhyme belongs to the geng group open second rank, its timbre bright yet slightly clipped, suiting a short admonitory counsel. Zhang closes with the rhymes 'sheng' and 'ming' — one writing past recommendation, one writing present civilization — the rhyme-feet echoing across, keeping the four lines' breath unbroken. The quatrain's brevity risks perfunctoriness; this piece's first two lines narrate the past, last two urge the present, using past-present as warp, completing in 28 characters three layers of praise, encouragement, and admonition — a density rare in short pieces. The final line's rhetorical question breaks the usual scene-ending of quatrains, a clear instance of Song poetry as argument; the geng rhyme's brightness just supports this reasoning without letting it fall into dryness.此诗七绝，押平声庚韵，庚韵属梗摄开口二等，音色清亮而稍促，宜短章讽劝之调。方平以「生」「明」二韵收束，一写昔之荐士、一写今之文明，韵脚遥应，使四句气脉不断。七绝体短，最忌敷衍，此篇前二叙昔、后二勉今，以「昔—今」经纬，于二十八字中完成颂人、勉今、讽劝三层，章法之密在短章中少见。又末句「可无推引助文明」以反诘收，打破绝句常有的景语收束，乃宋人「以议论为诗」的显例；庚韵的清亮恰托住这番说理，不使其堕于枯率。欲识宋调七绝以意行、以理收的面目，此篇足堪参看。庚韵清亮托住短章之理，首句入韵而末以反诘收，打破绝句常有的景语收束，正宋调七绝以意行、以理收之常。

Line by line

吴公昔作河南尹，首唱儒风荐贾生。

Lord Wu once served as Intendant of Henan, first to champion the Confucian way and recommend a Jia Sheng.

吴公昔日作河南尹，首倡儒风、举荐如贾生般的才士。

When Lord Wu was prefect of Henan, he first led the Confucian fashion and recommended a Jia Yi.

此起句先立吴公旧政，「昔作河南尹」以古官称其旧守，含蓄得体；次句「首唱儒风荐贾生」乃全篇诗眼，「首唱」见其倡率之先，「荐贾生」以汉贤比所拔之士，既颂吴公崇儒，又暗点陈汝玉此行乃「谒」贤受引。二十字而叙人、叙德、叙事俱备，是七绝起手之稳。方平送谒诗不写离别，而先写受谒者之德，正合宋人「以诗为谒」的实用功能——借颂德以冀引，起手即定调。

This opening first establishes Lord Wu's old governance. When Lord Wu was prefect of Henan uses the ancient official title for his old prefecture, reserved and proper. The second line, he first led the Confucian fashion and recommended a Jia Yi, is the poem's eye: first led shows he took the lead; recommended a Jia Yi compares the talent he raised to the Han worthy, at once praising Lord Wu's reverence for learning and secretly pointing out that Chen Ruyu's journey is a visit to the worthy for recommendation. Twenty characters, narrating the man, his virtue and the event complete, a steady opening for a seven-character quatrain. Fangping, in poems sending someone to pay a visit, does not write parting but first writes the virtue of the one visited, suiting the Song practical function of the poem as a visit - borrowing praise of virtue to hope for recommendation, fixing the key from the first stroke.

今日治平承祖德，可无推引助文明。

Today, in orderly peace, he inherits his ancestors' virtue — how could he lack the pushing-forward that aids civilization?

今日治平承祖宗之德，岂可无推引后进以助文明之举。

Today, in this peaceful reign that inherits the virtue of our ancestors, should there not be some to draw on and aid the civilizing age?

此结句由昔入今，「今日治平承祖德」把吴公置于承平继统的语境，暗勉其不负家世；「可无推引助文明」以反诘收束，表面问「岂可无」，实则是劝「当有」，把荐士之功系于「文明」大局。七绝末句最重余味，此以理语作结而不枯，正宋调之长。尤可味者「助文明」三字，把送谒诗的功利目的雅化为公共价值，既不媚且切，与起句「首唱」首尾呼应，结构乃紧。方平以二十八字完成颂人、勉今、讽劝三层，章法之密在短章中少见。

This closing line moves from the past to the present. Today, in this peaceful reign that inherits the virtue of our ancestors places Lord Wu in the context of an inherited peaceful succession, secretly urging him not to betray his house. The second line, should there not be some to draw on and aid the civilizing age, closes in a rhetorical question: on the surface asking should there not, really urging that there should be, binding the merit of recommending scholars to the great cause of civilization. The last line of a quatrain weighs most on aftertaste; this closes in reason yet is not dry, exactly the strength of the Song tone. What is most to taste is the three words aid the civilizing age, refining the utilitarian aim of a visit-poem into a public value, neither fawning nor irrelevant, echoing the opening's first led, the structure tight. Fangping completes the three layers of praising the man, urging the present and admonishing, in twenty-eight characters, a close-woven structure rare in short pieces.

Study

Word focus

首唱 'Shou chang' (first to champion) means to lead in advocacy; Zhang uses this word to depict Lord Wu's leading role in championing the Confucian way when it was not yet flourishing — more suggestive of 'first' and 'elegant' than 'vigorously promote.' It turns the abstract 'honoring Confucianism' into the tangible image of leading a chorus, forming with the following 'recommend a Jia Sheng' a chain of champion-recommend. 「首唱儒风荐贾生」之「首唱」，谓率先倡导。方平以此一字状吴公在儒风不振时之倡率地位，比「力倡」「大振」更显其「先」且「雅」。唱通倡，古字通用；「首唱」在六朝已用，如「首唱义师」，方平移于儒风，见其典重。此词之妙在以领唱之象写领风气之实，使抽象「崇儒」化为乐部领唱之可感，与下「荐贾生」构成「倡—荐」的施受链。一字而定吴公之风教地位，是宋人赠言以雅语写实的炼字范例。

推引 'Tui yin' (pushing-forward and drawing-in) means to recommend and advance; a common Song term (e.g., Ouyang Xiu's 'recommending the younger generation'). Zhang uses these two characters to sum up the poem's theme: Wu's 'recommend a Jia Sheng' is pushing-forward, and today's 'aiding civilization' also awaits it. The word elevates the utilitarian purpose of the seeing-off poem into the public value of 'aiding civilization' — neither fawning nor off-the-mark. Plain yet weighty, it is the poem's landing point, echoing the opening 'first to champion.' 「可无推引助文明」之「推引」，谓推挽引拔，宋人常用语（如欧阳修「推引后进」）。方平以此二字总括全诗主旨：吴公之「荐贾生」是推引，今之「助文明」亦待推引。此词把送谒诗的功利目的雅化为「助文明」的公共价值，既不媚且切。二字平实而重，是全诗落脚处，与起句「首唱」首尾呼应，结构乃紧。宋人重士类交游，方平此用「推引」正见其以清议维系士林的分寸，是台阁赠言之体的关键词。