The Emotions Expressed by Yanyu (Misty Rain)

As a poetic symbol of melancholy and nostalgia, Yanyu (烟雨), or misty rain, is a powerful expression of human emotions. It is a kind of light rain that is barely visible, and usually accompanies cloudy or foggy weather. Yanyu is often associated with autumn, when the air is crisp and the colors of nature turn yellow and orange. In Chinese literature, Yanyu has been portrayed as a subtle and romantic mood, evoking a sense of longing, love, or sorrow.

One of the most famous poems that features Yanyu is "A Song of Everlasting Sorrow" (长恨歌) by Bai Juyi (白居易), a Tang Dynasty poet. In this poem, the protagonist, Yang Guifei (杨贵妃), is described as a beautiful and tragic figure who falls in love with Emperor Xuanzong (唐玄宗) and eventually leads to his downfall. The scene where she bid farewell to the palace and her lover on a misty day is filled with Yanyu:

凤凰台上凤凰游，
俊杰领军谁敢讴。
宫人如花随步转，
何事殷勤想呈词。
欲将十年重过，神仙不得相同病。
江山如画今似昨，又何处是归期。

On Phoenix Terrace the phoenixes roamed,
As brave generals led their troops to the battlefront.
Like flowers, the palace maids turned and danced,
But who would dare to sing in praise of them?
As I wished to relive the past ten years,
No sage or immortals stayed to share my pain.
The landscape I cherished is now a memory,
Where should I go to find my home again?

Through the misty rain, we can feel the protagonist's sadness, loneliness, and despair. Yanyu lends a touch of elegance and mystery to the atmosphere, as if hiding the tears and secrets of the characters. The literary devices used in this poem, such as metaphor, personification, and allusion, enhance the emotional impact of Yanyu and make it a lasting image.

Another example of Yanyu is the popular song "Yueyang Tower" (岳阳楼) by Du Fu (杜甫), another Tang Dynasty poet. The song describes the poet's longing for his hometown, while admiring the scenic beauty of Yueyang Tower. The following stanza captures the essence of Yanyu:

昔闻洞庭水，今上岳阳楼。
吴楚东南坼，乾坤日夜浮。
亲朋无一字，老病有孤舟。
戎马关山北，凭轩涕泗流。

I once heard of Dongting Lake's fame,
But now I'm on the rooftops of Yueyang Tower.
The Wu and Chu regions are divided by a sliver,
While heaven and earth change day and night.
Without any news from my kin and friends,
I am old, sick, and alone in my boat.
My mind is set on the northern front,
As my tears and sobs fall from the tower's window.

Once again, Yanyu is used to create a sense of distance and longing, as the poet gazes at the misty landscape and remembers his past. The poetic images of the sliver dividing the regions, the changing universe, and the lonely boat convey a sense of helplessness and resignation. The use of traditional Chinese instruments like pipa and guzheng also adds to the musicality of the song and the texture of Yanyu.

In conclusion, Yanyu is an emotion-filled expression that combines the elements of weather, geography, history, and culture. It is a versatile poetic device that can convey a wide range of feelings, such as nostalgia, love, sorrow, or resignation. Yanyu also reflects the Chinese aesthetic value of subtlety, ambiguity, and beauty in literature, which is deeply rooted in the traditional philosophy of Taoism and Confucianism. Therefore, to understand Yanyu is to understand the essence of Chinese poetry and culture.