唐詩
城东早春
Yang Juyuan
诗家清景在新春，绿柳才黄半未匀。
若待上林花似锦，出门俱是看花人。
翻訳
For poets, the purest scene belongs to early spring: the green willows have only just turned yellow, their color still half uneven. If one waits until Shanglin is brocaded with flowers, then everyone who goes out will be a flower-viewer.
解説
"Early Spring East of the City" is a short quatrain by Yang Juyuan. Its central idea is precise: the most poetic spring is not full bloom, but the first, delicate moment when spring has only just begun. The first line states this directly. "For poets, the purest scene belongs to early spring." The phrase "for poets" matters. The poet is not describing the taste of the crowd. He is defining a more refined sensitivity — the ability to notice freshness before it becomes spectacle. The second line gives the poem's key image: willows just beginning to yellow within their green. The color is not yet even. This "half uneven" state is exactly what makes the scene early and tender. Spring is present, but still emerging. The final two lines contrast this subtle beauty with the later fullness of spring. If one waits until Shanglin is covered with flowers like brocade, everyone will be outside looking at flowers. The scene will be gorgeous, but no longer quiet, fresh, or privately discovered. The poem's taste is clear: it prefers the first hint of life to the crowded enjoyment of abundance. Full bloom belongs to everyone; early spring belongs to those who can see delicacy before it becomes obvious. The power of the poem lies in its restraint. It does not pile up spring imagery. It focuses on one moment — willow color just beginning to change — and uses that to define an entire poetic attitude.
作者紹介
Yang Juyuan was a Tang dynasty poet, courtesy name Jingshan, from Hezhong. He held official posts including Taichang Boshi and Guozi Siye, and was associated with poets such as Bai Juyi, Yuan Zhen, and Liu Yuxi. His poetry is known for elegance, clarity, and refined treatment of scenery and social exchange. "Early Spring East of the City" is his best-known poem, admired for its delicate observation of the first signs of spring.