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唐 Tang · 诗 Poem

送张判官赴河西

Seeing Off Judge Zhang to Hexi

王维

Wang Wei

送别Farewell 边塞Frontier

单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋。
见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军。
沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云。
慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君。

Alone in a single chariot I once went out beyond the pass, to serve the state—how dare I seek for merit?
I followed Zhang the Conqueror of Barbarians, and now I think of Huo the Champion.
Flat sands join the white snow, tumbleweeds whirl into the yellow clouds.
With stirring heart I lean on my long sword, and sing a grand song to see you off.

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Meaning

A five-character regulated verse in which Wang Wei sends Judge Zhang off to the Hexi corridor. He encourages his friend with the examples of famed frontier generals and paints the stark border landscape, closing with a bold, sword-leaning salute. The poem turns a parting into a martial exhortation of patriotic zeal.

单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋。见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军。沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云。慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君。

Appreciation

[Plain Paraphrase] The poet recalls going out beyond the pass alone to serve the state without seeking merit, then names Zhang Fei and Huo Qubing as models he follows in his heart. Flat sands meet white snow and tumbleweeds whirl into yellow clouds, before the close shows him leaning on his long sword and singing a grand song to see the friend off. [Structure] The first four lines voice a martial resolve; the last four render the stirring departure, a 'boldness then parting' farewell. [Imagery] 'Flat sands join the white snow, tumbleweeds whirl into yellow clouds' is a clean, wind-scoured border picture in plain description. [Tone] The poem is generous and rousing; even the closing song carries none of the usual parting sorrow.

【白话串讲】王维写《送张判官赴河西》：“单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋”——“见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军”——“沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云”——“慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君”——他送张判官赴河西——慷慨倚剑，高歌送行。【意象与手法】此诗写送别，以边塞写送别，是王维的名篇。前四句写壮怀：「单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋。见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军」写单车曾出塞、报国敢邀勋、见逐张征虏、今思霍冠军——写尽报国的壮怀；后四句写边景：「沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云。慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君」写沙平连白雪、蓬卷入黄云、慷慨倚长剑——写尽送别的壮烈。全诗以边塞写送别，写尽报国的壮怀与送别的壮烈，是王维的代表作。【情感与主旨】此诗写送别，以边塞写送别，是王维的名篇。此诗写王维送张判官赴河西（今甘肃河西走廊）的壮行。张判官即将出塞任职，王维作此诗相送，以飞将、冠军等边塞英雄勉励之，于送别之中寄壮怀。此诗写壮怀：单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋——写单车曾出塞、报国敢邀勋，写尽出塞的壮怀；见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军——写见逐张征虏、今思霍冠军，写尽英雄的追慕；沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云——写沙平连白雪、蓬卷入黄云，写尽边塞的风光；慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君——写慷慨倚长剑、高歌一送君，写尽送别的壮烈。全诗以边塞写送别——那「报国敢邀勋」写尽报国的壮怀，「高歌一送君」写尽送别的壮烈，写尽报国的壮怀与送别的壮烈，是理解王维边塞诗的重要篇章。【名句点睛】常考「单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋」写报国的壮怀；「沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云」写边塞的风光；以及全诗以边塞写送别、以用典写壮怀的手法。

Background

Wang Wei (701–761), styled Mojie, with Meng Haoran formed the 'Wang-Meng' pastoral school; Su Shi said of him 'poetry in his paintings, paintings in his poetry.' This poem sees Judge Zhang off to Hexi (today's Gansu corridor). Wang Wei had himself once served as a censor beyond the frontier, so he speaks from experience, urging his friend on with the heroes Zhang Fei and Huo Qubing. The Tang frontier was a theater of glory, and the poem belongs to the body of border farewells that turn departure into encouragement.

此诗写送别，以边塞写送别，是王维的名篇。王维（701—761），字摩诘，号摩诘居士，蒲州（今山西永济）人，唐代诗人，与孟浩然并称「王孟」，为山水田园诗派代表，苏轼评其「诗中有画，画中有诗」。此诗写王维送张判官赴河西（今甘肃河西走廊）的壮行。张判官即将出塞任职，王维作此诗相送，以飞将、冠军等边塞英雄勉励之，于送别之中寄壮怀。此诗写壮怀：「单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋」写单车曾出塞、报国敢邀勋——写尽出塞的壮怀（单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋）；「见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军」写见逐张征虏、今思霍冠军——写尽英雄的追慕（见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军）；「沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云」写沙平连白雪、蓬卷入黄云——写尽边塞的风光（沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云）；「慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君」写慷慨倚长剑、高歌一送君——写尽送别的壮烈（慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君）。全诗以边塞写送别，写尽报国的壮怀与送别的壮烈，是理解王维边塞诗的重要篇章。

Art

The art works on four fronts. First, direct utterance of resolve: 'how dare I seek for merit' states patriotic daring plainly. Second, allusion for admiration: 'Zhang the Conqueror of Barbarians' (Zhang Fei) and 'Huo the Champion' (Huo Qubing) marshal two conquerors to spur the friend. Third, plain description of border scene: 'flat sands, tumbleweeds, white snow, yellow clouds' sketch the windy north without ornament. Fourth, action for stir: 'lean on the long sword, sing a grand song' performs the send-off bodily. The first four lines build resolve, the last four the stirring leave-taking—boldness then parting. A 'once' recalls Wang Wei's own frontier service, lending the advice the warmth of one who has been there; merit is made to follow service, not lead it.

此诗的艺术特色可从四个方面解析。其一，以直抒写壮怀。「报国敢邀勋」以直抒写壮怀——那「敢邀勋」写尽报国的无畏，以直抒写尽出塞的壮怀。其二，以用典写追慕。「见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军」以用典写追慕——那「张征虏」「霍冠军」用张飞、霍去病之典写英雄，以用典写尽英雄的追慕。其三，以白描写边景。「沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云」以白描写边景——那「沙平」「蓬卷」写尽塞外风沙，以白描写尽边塞的风光。其四，以动作写壮烈。「慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君」以动作写壮烈——那「倚长剑」「高歌」写尽送别的慷慨，以动作写尽送别的壮烈。此外，此诗前四句写报国的壮怀，后四句写送别的壮烈，由壮及别，正是送别诗「以壮写别」的写法。四重手法，使此诗以边塞写送别，写尽报国的壮怀与送别的壮烈，是王维的代表作。此诗还善于以「单车曾出塞」的回首写王维自身的经历——那「曾出塞」写王维早年曾以监察御史出使边塞，正是以自身经历勉励友人的写法，一个「曾」字写尽过来人的亲切。又善以「报国敢邀勋」的先写报国、后写邀勋的次序，见出功名服从于报国的大义。

Allusions

The diction rests in the farewell and frontier lines. 'Single chariot' echoes Wang Wei's own 'a single chariot, I would ask the border.' 'Conqueror of Barbarians' cites Zhang Fei, granted that title by Shu; 'Champion' cites Huo Qubing, the Han general enfeoffed as Champion Marquis after six campaigns against the Xiongnu. 'White snow' and 'yellow clouds' belong to the northern border topos (compare Li Bai's 'yellow clouds for ten thousand miles stir the wind's color'). 'Long sword' evokes the leaning-sword motif of martial poems. The whole gathers Zhang Fei and Huo Qubing to charge the appointment with heroic air, showing Wang Wei's martial side beyond 'poetry in paintings.'

此诗的用语深植于送别与边塞传统。「单车」令人想到「单车」写单车出使的意象——也令人想到「单车欲问边」（王维）的意象；「征虏」令人想到「征虏」用张飞之典——张飞封征虏将军，也令人想到「征虏亭」的意象；「冠军」令人想到「冠军」用霍去病之典——霍去病封冠军侯，也令人想到「冠军侯」的意象；「白雪」令人想到「白雪」写塞外白雪的意象——也令人想到「北风卷地白草折」的意象；「黄云」令人想到「黄云」写塞外黄云的意象——也令人想到「黄云万里动风色」（李白）的意象；「长剑」令人想到「长剑」写倚剑的意象——也令人想到「抚剑夜吟啸」的意象。全诗化用单车、征虏、冠军、白雪、黄云、长剑的意象典故，以边塞写送别，正是王维「诗中有画」之外亦见豪迈、承边塞传统写壮怀之本领。「张征虏」指三国蜀将张飞，随刘备起兵，勇冠三军，官至车骑将军、领司隶校尉，封西乡侯，曾被授「征虏将军」之号；「霍冠军」指西汉名将霍去病，六击匈奴、封狼居胥，被封冠军侯。王维以张飞、霍去病两位开疆名将勉励张判官，正见河西军任的雄武气象。

Commentary

Ranked among Wang Wei's frontier farewells and a Tang model for the Hexi send-off, the poem is praised for being 'stirring and fervent.' Modern readers note 'flat sands join the white snow' as its scenic line. Its worth is condensing, in eight lines, the single chariot, the pass, service, merit, Zhang Fei, Huo Qubing, flat sands, white snow, tumbleweeds, yellow clouds, the long sword, and the grand song into one departure. It stands beside Wang Wei's 'On the Frontier' ('a single chariot, I would ask the border') and continues the Gao Shi 'Do not worry there are no true friends ahead' line of robust parting.

此诗历来被推为王维边塞送别诗的名篇，也是唐人写河西壮行的代表。历代论者对此诗评价极高：清人评此诗「以边塞写送别，慷慨激昂」；近人更指出「沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云」写边塞的风光，是此诗的名句。在诗歌史上，此诗的特殊价值在于：它以八句的五律写尽报国的壮怀与送别的壮烈——那单车，那出塞，那报国，那邀勋，那张征虏，那霍冠军，那沙平，那白雪，那蓬卷，那黄云，那长剑，那高歌，都写尽了王维笔下的河西；那「高歌一送君」更以动作写尽送别的壮烈。此诗与王维《使至塞上》（「单车欲问边」）同为边塞名篇，一写「大漠孤烟直」的塞上（使至塞上），一写「沙平连白雪」的河西（送张判官）；又与高适《别董大》「莫愁前路无知己」的送别传统一脉相承，可见中国诗写边塞送别的传统。对于今日读者，此诗是理解王维边塞诗的窗口，也是中国诗写河西壮行的经典——那高歌的长剑，穿越千年，仍在诉说着报国的壮怀。

Prosody

Form Five-character regulated verse (wu lu)诗·五言律诗

Rhyme Rhymes on xun, jun, yun, jun (Upper-Level Wen category), one rhyme sustained, with a stirring sound.五律，押「勋」「军」「云」「君」韵（上平十二文），一韵到底，音节慷慨

Tone pattern A five-character regulated verse, level-toned rhyme sustained; the sound matches the border's fervor.此诗为五言律诗，押平声韵，一韵到底，音节慷慨，正合边塞的慷慨。

Reading note Eight lines of five characters, rhyming on the Wen category (xun, jun, yun, jun) without shift, stirring in tone. The first four lines voice resolve (single chariot, Huo the Champion); the last four the stirring leave-taking (flat sands, grand song). Read the resolve with fervor and the close with uplift, letting the final line linger.此诗为五言律诗，八句——「单车曾出塞，报国敢邀勋。见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军。沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云。慷慨倚长剑，高歌一送君」，押「文」韵（勋、军、云、君），一韵到底，音节慷慨。全诗以边塞写送别：前四句写报国的壮怀（单车曾出塞、今思霍冠军），后四句写送别的壮烈（沙平连白雪、高歌一送君）。八句短章，前写壮怀，后写壮别，以「高歌一送君」写尽送别的壮烈，正见王维「诗中有画」之外亦见豪迈的本色。诵读此诗，宜以慷慨的语调读「报国敢邀勋」的壮怀，以昂扬的语调读「高歌一送君」的壮别，结句要读得慷慨而有余韵，方能传达出王维的慷慨激昂。王维律诗以「浑成」著称，此诗正是其边塞送别诗的典范。

Line by line

沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云

Flat sands join the white snow, tumbleweeds whirl into the yellow clouds.

沙平连白雪，蓬卷入黄云。

The level sand joins the white snow; the tumbleweed whirls into the yellow clouds.

此二句是全诗写边景的核心，以沙平连白雪写沙平，以蓬卷入黄云写蓬卷，写尽边塞的风光，是千古名句。「沙平连白雪」写沙平连白雪——那「沙平」写沙平，「连白雪」写连白雪，写尽沙平的雪色；「蓬卷入黄云」写蓬卷入黄云——那「蓬卷」写蓬卷，「入黄云」写入黄云，写尽蓬卷的黄云。这句的深意在于：它以「沙平连白雪」的沙雪与「蓬卷入黄云」的蓬云，写尽边塞的风光——沙平连白雪，那「沙平连白雪」写尽沙平的雪色——沙平连雪，正是塞外雪景的写照，那「沙平」写尽边塞的风光；蓬卷入黄云，那「蓬卷入黄云」写尽蓬卷的黄云——蓬卷黄云，正是塞外风沙的写照，那「蓬卷」写尽边塞的风光；那「沙平连白雪」写尽沙平的雪色，那「蓬卷入黄云」写尽蓬卷的黄云，一写沙雪，一写蓬云，写尽边塞的风光——沙连白雪而蓬卷黄云，正是塞外的荒寒；此二句以沙雪、蓬云写尽边塞的风光，也为下文的送别作铺垫，也让此二句成为全诗写边景的核心与千古名句。若换作直说「塞外又冷又荒凉」，则失其画面；唯以「沙平连白雪」写沙平、「蓬卷入黄云」写蓬卷，写尽边塞的风光，也让此二句成为全诗写边景的核心。

These two lines are the core of the whole's writing the frontier scene, using the level sand joins the white snow for the level sand and the tumbleweed whirls into the yellow clouds for the whirling tumbleweed, writing to the full the frontier scenery, the famous line of a thousand ages. The level sand writes the flat desert; joins the white snow writes the snow color of the sand. The tumbleweed whirls writes the rolling weeds; into the yellow clouds writes the yellow dust clouds. The deep meaning lies in that it uses the sand and snow of the level sand joins the white snow and the weeds and clouds of the tumbleweed whirls into the yellow clouds to write to the full the frontier scenery - the sand joining the white snow, exactly the picture of the border snow scene; the weeds whirling into the yellow clouds, exactly the picture of the border wind and sand. One writing sand and snow, one writing weeds and clouds, writing to the full the desolate cold of the border. These two lines write to the full the frontier scenery through sand and snow and weeds and clouds, lay a ground for the later send-off, and make them the core of the whole's frontier scene and a famous line of a thousand ages. If one instead directly said the border is cold and desolate, one would lose the picture; only writing the level sand through the level sand joins the white snow and the whirling tumbleweed through the tumbleweed whirls into the yellow clouds, writing to the full the frontier scenery, makes these two lines the core of the whole's frontier scene.

见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军

I followed Zhang the Conqueror of Barbarians, and now I think of Huo the Champion.

见逐张征虏，今思霍冠军。

We see the likes of Zhang, the Conqueror of the Shu; today we think of Huo, the Champion.

此二句是全诗写追慕的核心，以见逐张征虏写征虏，以今思霍冠军写冠军，写尽英雄的追慕，是千古名句。「见逐张征虏」写见逐张征虏——那「见逐」写见逐，「张征虏」写张征虏，写尽征虏的追随；「今思霍冠军」写今思霍冠军——那「今思」写今思，「霍冠军」写霍冠军，写尽冠军的追思。这句的深意在于：它以「见逐张征虏」的征虏与「今思霍冠军」的冠军，写尽英雄的追慕——见逐张征虏，那「见逐张征虏」写尽征虏的追随——见逐张征虏，正是以张飞自期的写照，那「张征虏」写尽英雄的追慕；今思霍冠军，那「今思霍冠军」写尽冠军的追思——今思霍冠军，正是以霍去病相勉的写照，那「霍冠军」写尽英雄的追慕；那「见逐张征虏」写尽征虏的追随，那「今思霍冠军」写尽冠军的追思，一写见逐，一写今思，写尽英雄的追慕——前逐征虏而今思冠军，正是以古英雄勉今人的写照；此二句以征虏、冠军写尽英雄的追慕，也为下文的边景作铺垫，也让此二句成为全诗写追慕的核心与千古名句。若换作直说「希望他像名将一样立功」，则失其用典；唯以「见逐张征虏」写征虏、「今思霍冠军」写冠军，写尽英雄的追慕，也让此二句成为全诗写追慕的核心。

These two lines are the core of the whole's writing admiration for heroes, using we see the likes of Zhang, the Conqueror of the Shu for Zhang and today we think of Huo, the Champion for Huo, writing to the full the admiration of heroes, the famous line of a thousand ages. We see the likes of Zhang, the Conqueror of the Shu uses the allusion to Zhang Fei, the general who conquered the Shu; today we think of Huo, the Champion uses the allusion to Huo Qubing, the Champion of the Flying Cavalry. The deep meaning lies in that it uses the Zhang of we see the likes of Zhang, the Conqueror of the Shu and the Huo of today we think of Huo, the Champion to write to the full the admiration of heroes - setting up the friend by comparing him with the ancient heroes Zhang Fei and Huo Qubing, encouraging him to win frontier merit. One writing the past, one writing the present, writing to the full the admiration - the past Zhang and the present Huo, exactly the picture of encouraging the modern man through the ancient heroes. These two lines write to the full the admiration of heroes through Zhang and Huo, lay a ground for the later frontier scene, and make them the core of the whole's admiration and a famous line of a thousand ages. If one instead directly said I hope he wins merit like a famous general, one would lose the allusive art; only writing Zhang through we see the likes of Zhang, the Conqueror of the Shu and Huo through today we think of Huo, the Champion, writing to the full the admiration of heroes, makes these two lines the core of the whole's admiration.

Study

Word focus

敢 The word 'dare' in 'how dare I seek for merit' carries the patriotic boldness; it turns service into fearless duty and shows the poem's stirred, unhesitating tone. 「报国敢邀勋」之「敢」字是写壮怀的关键词，一个「敢」字写尽报国的无畏。敢者，敢于、勇往也。王维以「报国敢邀勋」写壮怀，这个「敢」字至少有双重意味：其一，写志之敢——那「报国敢邀勋」写报国敢邀勋，那「敢」字写尽报国的无畏——敢邀勋，正是勇立功勋的写照，那「敢」字写尽出塞的壮怀；其二，写气之雄——那「敢」字更是写雄——敢，正见气魄的雄壮，那「敢」字写尽报国的壮怀。以「敢」字写壮怀，正是王维写边塞的枢纽——若换作「愿」「欲」等字，则或失其与「报国」「邀勋」的配合，或失其写敢的意味；唯「敢」字，以报国敢邀勋写尽报国的无畏与气魄的雄壮，与「高歌一送君」的高歌相合，写尽报国的壮怀，也让「报国敢邀勋」成为全诗写壮怀的名句。

慷慨 The word 'stirring' in 'with stirring heart I lean on my long sword' catches the leave-taking's fervor; one word joins feeling and the martial air of the salute. 「慷慨倚长剑」之「慷慨」是写壮烈的关键词，一个「慷慨」写尽送别的壮烈。慷慨者，意气激昂也。王维以「慷慨倚长剑」写壮烈，这个「慷慨」至少有双重意味：其一，写情之慷慨——那「慷慨倚长剑」写慷慨倚长剑，那「慷慨」写尽送别的激昂——慷慨倚剑，正是意气风发的写照，那「慷慨」写尽送别的壮烈；其二，写气之雄——那「慷慨」更是写雄——慷慨，正见气概的雄壮，那「慷慨」写尽报国的壮怀。以「慷慨」写壮烈，正是王维写边塞的枢纽——若换作「激昂」「豪迈」等词，则或失其与「倚长剑」「高歌一送君」的配合，或失其写慷慨的意味；唯「慷慨」二字，以慷慨倚长剑写尽送别的激昂与气概的雄壮，与「高歌一送君」的高歌相合，写尽送别的壮烈，也让「慷慨倚长剑」成为全诗写壮烈的名句。