Yuan Dynasty
小桃红 · 杂咏（一）
盍西村
市朝名利少相关，
成败经来惯。
莫道无人识真赝，
这其间，
急流勇退谁能辨？
一双俊眼，
一条好汉，
不见富春山。
Translation
The fame and profit of court and marketplace have little to do with me now; success and failure are things I have long grown used to seeing. Do not say there is no one who can tell true from false. But among all this, who can recognize the man who bravely withdraws from the rushing current? Only a pair of keen eyes, only a true man of courage, will not lose sight of Mount Fuchun.
Analysis
This song reflects on fame, success, and the rare wisdom of withdrawal. It is not mainly a landscape piece; it is a compact meditation on worldly ambition and the ability to step away from it. "The fame and profit of court and marketplace" names the two main arenas of worldly competition: public life and political power. The speaker says they now have little connection with him. This is not innocence, but detachment after experience. "Success and failure are things I have grown used to seeing" explains the detachment. Once one has witnessed enough rises and falls, temporary success loses some of its power. The line "Do not say there is no one who can tell true from false" broadens the issue. The world may have people capable of judging authenticity and falsehood. Yet the deeper challenge is recognizing "brave withdrawal from the rushing current." To withdraw from the current does not mean to quit after failure. It means stepping back while the current is still strong, while opportunities, honor, and power are still present. That requires more courage than ordinary ambition. "A pair of keen eyes" means insight, not physical beauty. "A true man of courage" means someone able to resist the momentum of fame and profit. The poem suggests that such courage is rare and often misunderstood. The final image of Mount Fuchun alludes to Yan Ziling, the Eastern Han recluse who refused official service under Emperor Guangwu and retired to the Fuchun River. Mount Fuchun therefore symbolizes principled withdrawal and freedom from power. The song's central point is sharp: the world celebrates those who advance, but only the truly discerning can understand the nobility of stepping back at the right time.
About the Author
He Xicun was a Yuan dynasty sanqu writer whose life details are uncertain; he is generally thought to have been from Xuyi. He was known for short scene-setting songs written in a fresh and natural style, especially on cities, waterscapes, seasonal scenes, and landscapes. Some of his works also reflect on fame, worldly success, and the instability of honor and disgrace. His representative works include "Little Peach Red · Eight Scenes of Linchuan" and "Little Peach Red · Miscellaneous Songs." The Ming critic Zhu Quan described his songs as "like a clear wind and bright music," emphasizing their refreshing sound and natural elegance.