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唐 Tang · 诗 Poem

月下独酌·其二

The, Drinking, Alone, under, the, Moon, II

李白

Li Bai

饮酒Drinking 咏怀memory

天若不爱酒，酒星不在天。
地若不爱酒，地应无酒泉。
天地既爱酒，爱酒不愧天。
已闻清比圣，复道浊如贤。
贤圣既已饮，何必求神仙。
三杯通大道，一斗合自然。
但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传。

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Meaning

A poem of the wine and the freedom, written by Li Bai. If the heaven did not love the wine, the Star of the Wine would not be in the heaven — the wine of the opening. If the earth did not love the wine, the earth should have no Spring of the Wine — the wine of the middle. The sages and the worthies since both have drunk, why must one seek the immortals and the spirits — the freedom of the middle. And the close's but obtaining the pleasure of the wine, do not for the awake ones transmit — the close's pleasure. The poem is the wine and the freedom: the stars, the sages, and the close's pleasure.

天如果不爱酒，酒星就不会挂在天上。地如果不爱酒，地上就不应有酒泉。天地既然都爱酒，那么爱酒就不愧对天地。已经听说清酒能比作圣人，又听说浊酒能比作贤人。贤人圣人都已饮酒，又何必去求神仙。三杯酒下肚可通晓大道，一斗酒入腹便合乎自然。只要能领会酒中的真趣，不必为醒者去传述。

Appreciation

[Plain Paraphrase] If, the, heaven, did, not, love, the, wine, the, Star, of, the, Wine, would, not, be, in, the, heaven. If, the, earth, did, not, love, the, wine, the, earth, should, have, no, Spring, of, the, Wine. The, heaven, and, the, earth, since, both, love, the, wine, loving, the, wine, not, ashamed, before, the, heaven. Already, hearing, the, clear, compared, to, the, sage, again, saying, the, turbid, like, the, worthy. The, sages, and, the, worthies, since, both, have, drunk, why, must, one, seek, the, immortals, and, the, spirits. The, three, cups, penetrating, the, great, way, the, one, dipper, uniting, with, the, nature, of, itself. But, obtaining, the, pleasure, of, the, wine, do, not, for, the, awake, ones, transmit. [Structure and Thought] The poem moves from the wine of the heaven and the earth with the Star of the Wine, through the sages and the worthies with the three cups, to the close's the pleasure of the wine. [Key Technique] The poem's art is the close of the pleasure: the three cups penetrating the great way the one dipper uniting with the nature of itself, and the close's but obtaining the pleasure of the wine do not for the awake ones transmit — the wine gathered in the freedom and the close's pleasure. [Emotional Tone] Free, bold, and wise: the poem is the stars, the cups and the close's pleasure.

【白话串讲】李白写《月下独酌·其二》：“天若不爱酒，酒星不在天”——“地若不爱酒，地应无酒泉”——“天地既爱酒，爱酒不愧天”——“三杯通大道，一斗合自然”——“但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传”——他说天地都爱酒。【意象与手法】此诗写饮酒的哲理与旷达，是李白《月下独酌》组诗之一。全诗以「酒」立论，层层递进：起句「天若不爱酒，酒星不在天」从「酒星」「酒泉」立论，说天地皆爱酒，为饮酒正名；「已闻清比圣，复道浊如贤」用「清圣浊贤」之典，说贤圣皆饮，故不必求仙；「三杯通大道，一斗合自然」写饮酒通大道、合自然，是千古名句；结句「但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传」写只求酒中之趣，不必为醒者传，旷达中见孤高。全诗以理入诗，句句扣酒，正是李白「以酒写怀」的代表。【情感与主旨】此诗为李白《月下独酌》组诗四首之二，约作于唐玄宗天宝三载（744）李白离开长安前后。李白因遭权贵谗毁而离开长安，心情抑郁，遂借酒浇愁，写下《月下独酌》组诗。组诗其一写「花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲」，以月、影为伴，写尽独酌的孤独；其二即此诗，以「酒星」「酒泉」「清圣浊贤」立论，为饮酒寻找天经地义的依据，写借酒消愁、以酒悟道的旷达。李白嗜酒，自称「臣是酒中仙」，其饮酒既是性格使然，也是失意时的慰藉。此诗以饮酒写旷达，以酒中趣写人间情，正是李白「酒中仙」形象的诗化体现。【名句点睛】常考「天若不爱酒，酒星不在天」的巧妙立论；「已闻清比圣，复道浊如贤」用「清圣浊贤」之典；「三杯通大道，一斗合自然」的千古名句与酒中悟道的哲理；结句「但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传」的旷达与孤高；以及此诗与《月下独酌·其一》《将进酒》的联系。

Background

Li Bai (701-762), the great poet of the Tang, wrote this 'The, Drinking, Alone, under, the, Moon, II' of the wine and the freedom — the freedom of the drinking in the night. The wine of the heaven and the earth with the Star of the Wine, the freedom of the sages, and the close's the pleasure of the wine — the poem gathers the freedom of the poet, the wisdom of the wine. The poem is one of the famous works of the poet's poems of the wine.

此诗为李白《月下独酌》组诗四首中的第二首，约作于唐玄宗天宝三载（744）李白被「赐金放还」、离开长安前后。李白（701—762），字太白，号青莲居士，唐代伟大的浪漫主义诗人，被后人誉为「诗仙」。天宝元年（742），李白奉诏入京，供奉翰林，本欲一展「济苍生，安社稷」的抱负，却因性格狂放、遭权贵谗毁，于天宝三载被「赐金放还」。失意离京后，李白借酒浇愁，写下《月下独酌》组诗。组诗其一「花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲。举杯邀明月，对影成三人」写月下独酌的孤独与超脱，是其中最著名的一首；其二即此诗，从「酒星」「酒泉」立论，以「清圣浊贤」为据，论证天地皆爱酒、饮酒合乎天道，写借酒消愁、以酒悟道的旷达。李白嗜酒，杜甫《饮中八仙歌》称其「天子呼来不上船，自称臣是酒中仙」，其饮酒既是天性的豪放，也是失意时的慰藉。此诗以戏谑的口吻、严密的逻辑为饮酒「正名」，于玩笑中见深意——酒中通大道、合自然，正是李白失意后以酒悟道、以酒遣怀的心声，也是理解李白「酒中仙」形象的关键篇章。

Art

The poem's art is the art of the pleasure. The wine opens: if, the, heaven, did, not, love, the, wine — the heaven of the love the wine; the, Star, of, the, Wine, would, not, be, in, the, heaven — the Star of the Wine of the heaven; if, the, earth, did, not, love, the, wine — the earth of the love the wine; the, earth, should, have, no, Spring, of, the, Wine — the Spring of the Wine of the earth; the, heaven, and, the, earth, since, both, love, the, wine — the heaven and the earth of the love; loving, the, wine, not, ashamed, before, the, heaven — the loving of the not ashamed. The freedom follows: already, hearing, the, clear, compared, to, the, sage — the clear of the sage; again, saying, the, turbid, like, the, worthy — the turbid of the worthy; the, sages, and, the, worthies, since, both, have, drunk — the sages of the drunk; why, must, one, seek, the, immortals, and, the, spirits — the immortals of the seeking; the, three, cups, penetrating, the, great, way — the three cups of the great way; the, one, dipper, uniting, with, the, nature, of, itself — the one dipper of the nature. And the close gathers the pleasure: but, obtaining, the, pleasure, of, the, wine — the pleasure of the wine; do, not, for, the, awake, ones, transmit — the awake ones of the transmit — the wine, the freedom and the close's pleasure, gathered in the poem.

此诗的艺术特色可从四个方面解析。其一，以戏谑立论的开篇。起句「天若不爱酒，酒星不在天。地若不爱酒，地应无酒泉」从「酒星」「酒泉」二物立论——酒星本在天上，酒泉本在地上，既已有之，则天地皆爱酒，为饮酒寻得「天经地义」的依据，戏谑而机智。其二，以典证酒的推理。「已闻清比圣，复道浊如贤」用「清圣浊贤」之典（汉末禁酒，人讳言酒，称清酒为圣人、浊酒为贤人），说圣贤皆已饮酒，则饮酒不违圣贤之道；「贤圣既已饮，何必求神仙」更以圣贤饮酒推出不必求仙，层层推理，句句扣酒。其三，以哲理收束的升华。「三杯通大道，一斗合自然」以酒通大道、合乎自然，将饮酒升华为悟道之境，是千古名句；「但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传」更写酒中之趣不足为外人道，旷达中见孤高。其四，以口语入诗的自然。全诗句式整饬而口吻轻松，如与人论辩，正是李白「清水出芙蓉，天然去雕饰」的语言风格。四重手法，使此诗以理入诗、以酒写怀，是李白乐府诗「以酒悟道」风格的典型。

Allusions

'The Star of the Wine' (jiu xing) is the Star of the Wine — the star of the wine, the heaven of the opening; 'the Spring of the Wine' (jiu quan) is the Spring of the Wine — the spring of the wine, the earth of the opening; 'the clear compared to the sage' (qing bi sheng) is the clear compared to the sage — the clear of the sage, the wine of the middle.

此诗的用语深植于酒与哲思的传统。「酒星」即酒旗星，古人以为天上酒旗星主酒，令人想到「天垂酒星之耀，地列酒泉之郡」（孔融《与曹操论酒禁书》）的论酒传统；「酒泉」即酒泉郡（今甘肃酒泉），相传其地有泉，泉味如酒，令人想到「酒泉」的得名传说，也令人想到「地有酒泉之郡」的论酒之辞；「清比圣，浊如贤」用「清圣浊贤」之典——汉末大乱，禁酒甚严，人讳言酒，称清酒为圣人、浊酒为贤人，此典见《三国志·魏书·徐邈传》，令人想到「中圣人」「中贤人」的典故；「三杯通大道」令人想到「酒后吐真言」的饮酒传统，也令人想到「一醉解千愁」的酒中境界；「一斗合自然」令人想到《庄子》「天地与我并生，而万物与我为一」的自然之道，也令人想到「醉里乾坤大，壶中日月长」的醉境；「酒中趣」令人想到「但得酒中趣，何必醉如泥」的饮酒之乐，也令人想到陶渊明「此中有真意，欲辨已忘言」的忘言之境。全诗化用酒星、酒泉、清圣浊贤、自然之道等传统，以戏谑写旷达，正是李白「以酒悟道」的本领。

Commentary

This poem is one of the famous works of Li Bai's poems of the wine, quoted for the boldness of its opening and the wisdom of its close. The Star of the Wine, and the pleasure of the wine, are among the admired passages of the poet's poems. Critics praise the poem's freedom: the wine gathered in the sages, to the close's pleasure.

此诗历来被推为李白《月下独酌》组诗中的名篇，也是其写饮酒悟道的代表作。历代论者对此诗评价极高：清人评此诗「以酒立论，涉笔成趣，妙在无理而有理」；近人更指出「三杯通大道，一斗合自然」以酒通大道，是李白写酒中境界的千古名句。在诗歌史上，此诗的特殊价值在于：它以戏谑的笔法为饮酒正名，写出李白失意后以酒悟道的旷达——那酒星在天的立论，那清圣浊贤的推理，那三杯通大道的哲理，那酒中真趣的领悟，都写尽了这位「酒中仙」失意时的心境；那「三杯通大道，一斗合自然」以酒写道，既是饮酒的至境，也是悟道的至境。此诗与《月下独酌·其一》（「花间一壶酒」）同为组诗，一写独酌的孤独，一写饮酒的哲理；又与《将进酒》（「天生我材必有用」）的狂放相映，可见李白对待失意的不同姿态。对于今日读者，此诗是理解李白「酒中仙」形象的窗口，也是中国诗写饮酒悟道的经典——那三杯通的大道，穿越千年，仍在诉说着一位诗仙酒中的旷达与孤高。

Prosody

Form An old poem of the wine (wu yan gu shi)诗·五言古诗

Rhyme The poem rhymes on the level of the group — the cadence of the old poem that carries the free wisdom.此诗为五古，韵脚（天、泉、天、贤、仙、然、传）押平声先韵，一韵到底，音韵流畅

Tone pattern The cadence is that of the pleasure: the level opening with the wine, the turning with the freedom, and the close's fall with the transmit.此诗为五言古诗，十四句，不受近体格律束缚，句式整饬，节奏明快，正合论酒戏谑的口吻。

Reading note The poem's sound matches its freedom: the cadences of the old poem, and the close — 'wu wei xing zhe chuan' — falls with the transmit, the sound of the wisdom of the wine poet.此诗为五言古诗，十四句，以「酒」立论，层层递进：首四句以「酒星」「酒泉」立论（天若不爱酒，酒星不在天。地若不爱酒，地应无酒泉），中四句以「清圣浊贤」证酒（已闻清比圣，复道浊如贤。贤圣既已饮，何必求神仙），末六句以「通大道」「合自然」收束（三杯通大道，一斗合自然。但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传）。押平声先韵，韵脚「天、泉、天、贤、仙、然、传」一韵到底，音韵流畅。作为古体诗，此诗不受近体平仄对仗束缚，句式整饬（多为五言偶句），口吻轻松，如与人论辩。全诗以五言的明快节奏，写论酒悟道的层层推理——首以实事立论，中以典故证酒，末以哲理收束，一气呵成。诵读此诗，宜以轻松戏谑的语调读前四句的立论，以肯定的语调读「清圣浊贤」的推理，以旷达的语调读「三杯通大道」的哲理，结句「但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传」要读得洒脱而有余味，方能传达出李白酒中的旷达与孤高。

Line by line

天若不爱酒，酒星不在天

If heaven loved not wine, the Wine Star would not be in the sky.

天如果不爱酒，酒星就不会挂在天上。

If heaven loved not wine, the Wine Star would not hang in the sky.

此句是全诗立论的开端，以酒星在天的实事，戏谑地为饮酒正名。「天若不爱酒，酒星不在天」写天既爱酒——那「酒星」即天上主酒的酒旗星，「天若不爱酒」以假设起，那「酒星不在天」以事实收，以酒星在天的实事，推出天是爱酒的。这句的深意在于：它以「若」与「不在」的假设推理，为饮酒寻找天经地义的依据——酒星既然在天上，说明天爱酒；酒泉既然在地上，说明地爱酒；天地既爱酒，人爱酒又何愧于天地？那戏谑的口吻、严密的逻辑，写尽李白为饮酒「正名」的机智，也暗含失意后以酒遣怀的心绪。若换作直说「天地都爱酒」，则失其趣味；唯以「酒星不在天」的实事作证，戏谑而机智，写尽李白「以酒立论」的妙趣，也让此句成为全诗机智的开端。酒星是天上星宿，诗人以「酒星不在天」的实事作证，戏谑地证明天也爱酒；这种以虚证虚的机智，正见李白「以酒立论」的妙趣，也为全诗「天爱酒」的立论奠定基础。

The opening is the poem's thesis, playfully justifying wine by the Wine Star in the sky. The line reasons by hypothesis: if heaven loved not wine, the Wine Star (the asterism presiding over wine) would not be there - so heaven loves wine. The deep point: finding heaven-sanctioned warrant for drinking - since the Wine Star is in heaven, heaven loves wine; and since the Wine Spring is on earth, earth loves wine; if heaven and earth love wine, why should man's love of wine be ashamed? The playful tone and tight logic show Li Bai's wit in 'justifying' wine, and darkly hold the mood of unburdening disappointment through drink.

三杯通大道，一斗合自然

Three cups lead to the Great Way; one dou makes one one with Nature.

三杯酒下肚可通晓大道，一斗酒入腹便合乎自然。

Three cups, and one apprehends the Great Way; one dou, and one is at one with Nature.

此句是全诗的哲理核心，也是千古名句，以酒通大道、合自然。「三杯通大道」写三杯酒可通晓大道——那「三杯」写饮酒有度，那「通大道」写酒能使人通晓大道，写酒中悟道的境界；「一斗合自然」写一斗酒合乎自然——那「一斗」写畅饮之量，那「合自然」写饮酒合乎自然之道，写酒中逍遥的至境。这句的深意在于：它以「通大道」「合自然」写饮酒的最高境界——酒不只是浇愁之物，更是悟道之门；三杯之下，大道可通；一斗之中，自然相合；那「大道」与「自然」，正是道家思想的最高范畴，李白以酒通向它们，写尽酒中悟道的旷达与超脱。若换作直说「喝酒很快乐」，则失其哲理；唯以「通大道」「合自然」写酒中至境，写尽酒中悟道的玄妙，也让此句成为写饮酒哲理的千古名句。「三杯」「一斗」写饮酒之量，「通大道」「合自然」写酒中悟道之境；量愈多而道愈深，正见李白把饮酒提升到与大道自然相合的哲理高度。

The philosophical core of the poem, a famous line through the ages, wine leading to the Great Way and to Nature. 'Three cups lead to the Great Way' - measured drinking brings the Way; 'one dou makes one one with Nature' - the full draught joins the natural. The deep point: wine is no mere drowner of grief, but the gate to awakening; three cups, the Way may be reached; one dou, Nature is joined; the 'Great Way' and 'Nature' are the highest categories of Daoist thought, Li Bai reaching them through wine, writing the breadth and release of awakening in wine.

但得酒中趣，勿为醒者传

Could one but grasp the delight in wine - tell it not to the sober.

只要能领会酒中的真趣，不必为醒者去传述。

Could one but seize the true delight in wine, speak it not to the sober.

此句是全诗的情感收束，写酒中真趣不足为外人道，旷达中见孤高。「但得酒中趣」写只求得酒中的真趣——那「但得」写只求此一事，那「酒中趣」写酒中的真趣、妙趣；「勿为醒者传」写不必为醒者传述——那「勿为」写不必，「醒者传」写向清醒的人传述。这句的深意在于：它以「酒中趣」与「醒者传」的对照，写出酒中境界的独得之乐——酒中之趣，只有醉者能领会，清醒的人是体会不到的，所以不必向他们传述；那「但得」写尽对酒中趣的执着，那「勿为醒者传」写尽醉者与醒者的隔膜，也暗含诗人的孤高——世人皆醉我独醒的颠倒，反过来说，则是酒中才见真趣、醒者难知。若换作直说「喝酒的快乐没人懂」，则失其含蓄；唯以「酒中趣」「醒者传」写独得之乐与隔膜，写尽酒中境界的孤高，也让此句成为全诗最有余味的一笔。那「但得」写但求，「勿为」写莫向；酒中之趣只可自得，醒者（世俗清醒之人）不可与言，正见李白酒中境界的孤高与清醒者之间的隔膜。

The emotional close of the poem, the true delight in wine not to be shared, loftiness within breadth. 'Could one but grasp the delight in wine' - seeking only this one thing, the true joy within wine; 'tell it not to the sober' - no need to tell the clear-headed. The deep point: the delight of wine belongs to the drunk alone; the sober cannot know it, so tell them not; the 'could one but' writes the clinging to wine's delight, 'tell it not to the sober' the barrier between drunk and sober, holding the poet's loftiness - the world's all drunk and I alone awake, reversed: only in wine is true delight, the sober know not.

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Word focus

通 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「三杯通大道」之「通」字是写酒中悟道的关键字，一个「通」字写尽酒通大道的至境。通者，通达、贯通也。李白以「三杯通大道」写饮酒，这个「通」字至少有双重意味：其一，写酒力之通——那「通」写三杯下肚，酒力贯通全身，令人陶然忘机，写饮酒的畅快；其二，写悟道之通——那「通」更是写悟道——三杯之下，大道可通，那「通」写酒能打通通往大道的门径，写酒中悟道的境界。以「通」字写酒，正是李白写酒中至境的枢纽——若换作「至」「达」等字，则或失其贯通之动感，或失其与「大道」的配合；唯「通」字，以一字写尽酒通大道的畅快与玄妙，与「合自然」的「合」相对，写尽酒中悟道的旷达，也让「三杯通大道」成为写饮酒哲理的千古名句。

趣 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「但得酒中趣」之「趣」字是写酒中真趣的关键字，一个「趣」字写尽饮酒的妙处。趣者，趣味、真趣也。李白以「酒中趣」写饮酒，这个「趣」字至少有双重意味：其一，写酒味之趣——那「趣」写酒中自有的真趣、妙趣，写饮酒本身的快乐；其二，写人生之趣——那「趣」更是写人生——酒中自有真趣，不必为功名所累，那「趣」写尽李白对人生真趣的领悟。以「趣」字写酒，正是李白写酒中境界的枢纽——若换作「乐」「味」等字，则或失其雅趣，或失其与「真」的配合；唯「趣」字，以一字写尽酒中的真趣与人生的妙趣，与「勿为醒者传」的孤高相合，写尽酒中独得的境界，也让「但得酒中趣」成为写饮酒真趣的名句。