Classical Prose

归去来兮辞

Guī qù lái xī cí

陶渊明

Táo Yuānmíng

Guī qù lái xī, tián yuán jiāng wú hú bù guī?

归去来兮,田园将芜胡不归?

Jì zì yǐ xīn wéi xíng yì, xī chóu chàng ér dú bēi?

既自以心为形役,奚惆怅而独悲?

Wù yǐ wǎng zhī bù jiàn, zhī lái zhě zhī kě zhuī.

悟已往之不谏,知来者之可追。

Shí mí tú qí wèi yuǎn, jué jīn shì ér zuó fēi.

实迷途其未远,觉今是而昨非。

Zhōu yáo yáo yǐ qīng yáng, fēng piāo piāo ér chuī yī.

舟遥遥以轻飏,风飘飘而吹衣。

Wèn zhēng fū yǐ qián lù, hèn chén guāng zhī xī wēi.

问征夫以前路,恨晨光之熹微。

Nǎi zhān héng yǔ, zài xīn zài bēn.

乃瞻衡宇,载欣载奔。

Tóng pú huān yíng, zhì zǐ hòu mén.

僮仆欢迎,稚子候门。

Sān jìng jiù huāng, sōng jú yóu cún.

三径就荒,松菊犹存。

Xié yòu rù shì, yǒu jiǔ yíng zūn.

携幼入室,有酒盈樽。

Yǐn hú shāng yǐ zì zhuó, miǎn tíng kē yǐ yí yán.

引壶觞以自酌,眄庭柯以怡颜。

Yǐ nán chuāng yǐ jì ào, shěn róng xī zhī yì ān.

倚南窗以寄傲,审容膝之易安。

Yuán rì shè yǐ chéng qù, mén suī shè ér cháng guān.

园日涉以成趣,门虽设而常关。

Cè fú lǎo yǐ liú qì, shí jiǎo shǒu ér xiá guān.

策扶老以流憩,时矫首而遐观。

Yún wú xīn yǐ chū xiù, niǎo juàn fēi ér zhī hái.

云无心以出岫,鸟倦飞而知还。

Jǐng yì yì yǐ jiāng rù, fǔ gū sōng ér pán huán.

景翳翳以将入,抚孤松而盘桓。

Guī qù lái xī, qǐng xī jiāo yǐ jué yóu.

归去来兮,请息交以绝游。

Shì yǔ wǒ ér xiāng wéi, fù jià yán xī yān qiú?

世与我而相违,复驾言兮焉求?

Yuè qīn qī zhī qíng huà, lè qín shū yǐ xiāo yōu.

悦亲戚之情话,乐琴书以消忧。

Nóng rén gào yú yǐ chūn jí, jiāng yǒu shì yú xī chóu.

农人告余以春及,将有事于西畴。

Huò mìng jīn chē, huò zhào gū zhōu.

或命巾车,或棹孤舟。

Jì yǎo tiǎo yǐ xún hè, yì qí qū ér jīng qiū.

既窈窕以寻壑,亦崎岖而经丘。

Mù xīn xīn yǐ xiàng róng, quán juān juān ér shǐ liú.

木欣欣以向荣,泉涓涓而始流。

Shàn wàn wù zhī dé shí, gǎn wú shēng zhī xíng xiū.

善万物之得时,感吾生之行休。

Yǐ yǐ hū! Yù xíng yǔ nèi fù jǐ shí, hé bù wěi xīn rèn qù liú?

已矣乎!寓形宇内复几时,曷不委心任去留?

Hú wéi hū huáng huáng yù hé zhī?

胡为乎遑遑欲何之?

Fù guì fēi wú yuàn, dì xiāng bù kě qī.

富贵非吾愿,帝乡不可期。

Huái liáng chén yǐ gū wǎng, huò zhí zhàng ér yún zǐ.

怀良辰以孤往,或植杖而耘耔。

Dēng dōng gāo yǐ shū xiào, lín qīng liú ér fù shī.

登东皋以舒啸,临清流而赋诗。

Liáo chéng huà yǐ guī jǐn, lè fū tiān mìng fù xī yí!

聊乘化以归尽,乐夫天命复奚疑!


Translation

I go home! The fields and gardens will grow wild. Why not go back? Since I made my mind a slave to my body, why am I so distressed and alone in my grief? I understand that the past cannot be undone, but I know the future can still be pursued. Indeed, I have not gone too far astray. I realize that today is right and yesterday was wrong. The boat sways lightly along; the wind blows and flutters my clothes. I ask a traveler about the road ahead, regretting the faintness of the morning light. Then I glimpse my humble gate and run forward with joy. Boys and servants welcome me; my young child waits at the door. The three paths are overgrown, but the pines and chrysanthemums remain. Taking the child by the hand, I enter my home. Wine fills the jar. I lift the cup and pour for myself, gazing at the garden trees with happy satisfaction. Leaning against the south window, I rest in my pride. I examine the tiny room and find it easy to settle in. I walk daily in the garden, finding delight there. Though the gate is made, it is often shut. I lean on my staff and wander at leisure, raising my head to gaze into the distance. Clouds rise carelessly from the mountain peaks; birds, weary of flying, know it is time to return. The sunlight fades and is about to disappear. I touch the lonely pine and linger. I go home! Let me shut off all contact with the world. The world and I are at odds. What more is there to seek by going out again? I delight in the intimate words of my family; I take joy in the zither and books to dispel my sorrow. The farmer tells me that spring has come, and there will be work on the western fields. Sometimes I order a covered carriage; sometimes I row a lonely boat. I explore winding valleys and cross rugged hills. The trees grow joyfully lush; the spring begins to flow gently. I rejoice that all things have their season, and I feel that my life is drawing to its close. It is over! How much longer shall this frame lodge in the universe? Why not let my heart go where it will? Why am I so unsettled, so anxious to go somewhere? Wealth and rank are not my desire. The realm of the immortals cannot be attained. I look forward to fine days and go out alone. Sometimes I plant my staff and begin to weed and till. I climb the eastern hill and whistle long; I face the clear stream and recite poems. I accept the process of change and go toward the end. I rejoice in the will of Heaven. What is there to doubt?

Analysis

Returning Home is Tao Yuanming's declaration of withdrawal from official life and one of the most famous works of Chinese recluse literature. It was written after he resigned from his low-ranking post rather than continue 'bending his back for five pecks of grain.' The opening line 'I go home! The fields and gardens will grow wild. Why not go back?' establishes the urgent, rhythmic call of the piece. Tao writes with a blend of disappointment in the political world and joy in the natural one. The famous lines 'I realize that today is right and yesterday was wrong' make a clear moral judgment of his past, yet the tone is not bitter — he feels regret but not despair, because he has time to make a new choice. The journey home becomes lyrical: the boat sways lightly, the wind flutters the clothes. When he sees his gate, he runs. The physical detail creates emotional immediacy. Once home, the pace slows. Walking in the garden, looking at trees, touching the pine, drinking alone, talking with family — these small actions carry the weight of moral choice. 'Clouds rise carelessly from the mountain peaks; birds, weary of flying, know it is time to return' is the most beautiful passage, using nature as a metaphor for the writer's own return. The second half describes life in the countryside — farming, traveling, singing, writing. The climactic ending 'I rejoice in the will of Heaven. What is there to doubt?' expresses a settled spirit. What he has chosen is not just a place to live but a way to live — accepting limits, enjoying simplicity, letting go of impossible ambitions. The power of the piece lies in its conviction. Tao Yuanming does not argue for reclusion theoretically; he shows it happening in real time, with concrete images and honest feeling.

About the Author

Tao Yuanming, also known as Tao Qian, was a poet and prose writer of the late Eastern Jin and early Liu Song period. His courtesy name was Yuanliang, and he was from Chaisang in Xunyang. After brief service in government, he withdrew from official life and lived in the countryside, famously refusing to 'bend his back for five pecks of grain.' He is one of the most important pastoral poets in Chinese literary history. His work is known for natural simplicity, moral independence, love of rural life, and longing for spiritual freedom. Major works include 'Returning to the Fields and Gardens,' 'Drinking Wine,' 'Record of the Peach Blossom Spring,' 'Returning Home,' and 'Biography of the Gentleman of Five Willows.'