Yuan Dynasty
沉醉东风
### 标题
手执着饯行杯，眼阁着别离泪。
好去者，望前程万里。
Translation
Though we are now within arm’s reach, in a moment we will be as far apart as north and south under heaven; the moon breaks, flowers scatter, and beauty is undone by parting. I hold the farewell cup in my hand, with tears of separation kept in my eyes. No sooner do I say “take care of yourself” than the pain of letting go becomes unbearable. Go well, then. May your road ahead stretch bright for ten thousand miles.
Analysis
This lyric is a farewell song. Its opening line is striking because the lovers or friends are still physically close, yet emotional distance has already begun. “The moon breaks, flowers scatter” transforms separation into a visual collapse of beauty and wholeness. The farewell cup and the tears are familiar motifs, but Guan Hanqing makes them direct and immediate. The ending is especially moving: the speaker does not merely lament the separation, but turns pain into blessing. “May your road ahead stretch for ten thousand miles” contains both reluctance and generosity.
About the Author
Guan Hanqing was one of the foundational figures of Yuan drama and sanqu. His writing is direct, emotionally vivid, and strongly theatrical. He is best known for plays such as The Injustice to Dou E, but his songs also reveal a remarkable ability to capture love, parting, and everyday human feeling in concise, lively language.