The Small Terrace

Bai JuyiBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

3.5

Word count: 6.8K words
Chapters: 48

Summary

New trees hang low like curtains; the little terrace is flat as a palm. A six-foot white rattan bed, a single green bamboo staff. The wind drifts, bamboo sheaths fall; moss bears the prints of cranes. Who shares this secluded spot? Idle folk come and go on their own.

Editor's review

This short poem by Bai Juyi sketches a scene of utmost simplicity in a life of leisure: new trees hang low like curtains, the little terrace is flat as a palm, a six-foot white rattan bed and a single green bamboo staff; when the wind comes, bamboo sheaths drift down, and crane prints remain on the moss, closing with "Who shares this secluded spot? Idle folk come and go on their own." The poem relies not on rare words or obscure allusions but on dimensions, objects, and faint traces to build its picture, making "small" and "idle" concrete and palpable. The 2024 Bashu Publishing House edition serves well as material for a close reading of a single poem. Its value lies in experiencing the manner of Bai Juyi's late leisure poems: the space is small and the objects simple, yet through the self-question "who will share the view" the seclusion gains a touch of human warmth. Readers may note the use of numbers and measure words—"low as curtains," "flat as a palm," "six feet," "a single stem"—which give the scene a sense of scale; they may also note the contrast between movement and trace in phrases like "the wind drifts" and "moss bears the prints." Best read slowly in quiet moments; no need to seek much, only to savor the picture and tone repeatedly.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Bai Juyi's poetry and Tang dynasty leisure verse
Language learners who need short classical poems for close-reading practice
General readers who want a brief poem to relax with in spare moments
Enthusiasts of spatial and object description in classical poetry

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting long narrative or social critique
Beginners who need detailed annotations and line-by-line translation to read poetry
Readers who prefer grand vistas or intense emotional expression

Reading tips

First read aloud twice to feel the rhythm of the five-character lines, then see how each image connects.
Circle the numbers and measure words in the poem and consider how they make the "little terrace" tangible.
After reading, try describing this small scene in your own words, then compare with the original line structure.
Read alongside other short leisure poems by Bai Juyi to observe common features of scene selection and tone.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
【古意】白居易
卷452_22【山游示小妓】白居易
卷452_23【神照禅师同宿】白居易
卷452_24【张常侍相访】白居易
卷452_25【早夏游宴】白居易
卷452_26【感白莲花】白居易
卷452_27【咏所乐】白居易
卷452_28【思旧】白居易
卷452_29【寄卢少尹】白居易
卷452_30【池上清晨候皇甫郎中】白居易
卷452_31【咏怀】白居易
卷452_32【北窗三友】白居易
卷452_33【吟四虽（杂言）】白居易
卷452_34【裴侍中晋公以集贤林亭即事诗三十六韵见赠…以伸酬献】白居易
卷452_21【晚归香山寺，因咏所怀】白居易
卷452_22【张常侍池凉夜闲宴赠诸公】白居易
卷452_23【和皇甫郎中秋晓同登天宫阁言怀六韵】白居易
卷452_24【送吕漳州】白居易
卷452_25【短歌曲】白居易
卷452_26【咏怀】白居易
卷452_27【府西亭纳凉归】白居易
卷452_28【老热】白居易
卷452_29【新秋喜凉，因寄兵部杨侍郎】白居易
卷452_30【懒放二首，呈刘梦得、吴方之】白居易
卷452_31【六十六】白居易
卷452_32【三适赠道友】白居易
卷452_33【洛阳春赠刘李二宾客（齐梁格）】白居易
卷452_34【寒食】白居易
卷452_35【和裴令公一日日一年年杂言见赠】白居易
卷453_1【题裴晋公女几山刻石诗后】白居易
卷453_2【洛阳有愚叟】白居易
卷453_3【饱食闲坐】白居易
卷453_4【闲居自题】白居易
卷453_5【览镜喜老】白居易
卷453_6【风雪中作】白居易
卷453_7【对琴酒】白居易
卷453_8【雪中晏起偶咏所怀兼呈张常侍、韦庶子、皇甫郎中】白居易
卷453_9【和裴侍中南园静兴见示】白居易
卷453_10【春寒】白居易
卷453_11【菩提寺上方晚望香山寺，寄舒员外】白居易
卷453_12【二月一日作，赠韦七庶子】白居易
卷453_13【犬鸢】白居易
卷453_14【梦刘二十八，因诗问之】白居易
卷453_15【闲吟】白居易
卷453_16【西行】白居易
卷453_17【东归】白居易
卷453_18【途中作】白居易

FAQ

What is this poem mainly about?

According to the material, the poem describes new trees hanging low like curtains and a little terrace flat as a palm, furnished with a six-foot white rattan bed and a single green bamboo staff; the wind drifts bamboo sheaths down, crane prints remain on the moss, and it closes lamenting that no one shares this secluded spot, only idle folk coming and going on their own. Overall it is a simple, quiet scene of leisurely dwelling.

What does "little terrace" refer to in the poem?

In the material, "the little terrace is flat as a palm" describes a small platform, emphasizing its flatness and narrowness, like a palm. It is a specific feature of the poet's leisurely dwelling, forming together with the low new trees, white rattan bed, and green bamboo staff a simple living space.

Why does the poem mention "crane prints"?

The material presents only the line "moss bears the prints of cranes," describing crane footprints left on the moss. It adds a trace of life and activity to the secluded setting and suggests a place seldom visited by people, an atmosphere of natural ease. The specific meaning can be felt through the whole poem's imagery; it should not be overinterpreted.

Is it suitable for beginners?

The poem is short and its literal meaning is not too difficult, making it suitable as introductory material for close reading of classical poetry. But if one has no foundation in classical Chinese at all, it is still advisable to use reliable annotations to understand the words; those with basic reading ability can start directly from the imagery and rhythm without seeking deep interpretation first.

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About the author

Bai Juyi Author · Chinese

Bai Juyi (772–846), courtesy name Letian and styled Xiangshan Jushi, was born in Xinzheng, Henan, with ancestral roots in Taiyuan. A leading Tang dynasty realist poet, he championed the New Yuefu movement together with Yuan Zhen, and the two were known as "Yuan-Bai"; he is also paired with Liu Yuxi as "Liu-Bai." Bai Juyi served as a Hanlin academician and Left Remonstrator, among other posts. His wide-ranging work includes satirical poems on the hardships of ordinary people and long narrative and lyrical songs. Masterpieces such as "Song of Everlasting Sorrow," "Song of the Pipa," and "The Charcoal Seller" are noted for their plain, natural language and sincere feeling, and have exerted a lasting influence on later poetry. His Bai Shi Changqing Collection survives, and this library holds 77 of his works, including poems, prose collections, and verse groups such as Poems from Qin and Spring by the Xunyang River, commonly classed under ancient poetry, classic works, and inspirational growth.