Song of the White Dove

Li BaiBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.0

Word count: 9.3K words
Chapters: 48

Summary

With imagery of birds of prey and the phoenix, "Song of the White Dove" criticizes rulers who say one thing and do another, reap without sowing, are greedy and cruel, and hold themselves aloof in arrogance.

Editor's review

"Song of the White Dove" is Li Bai's short but sharply pointed work of allegory through the depiction of objects. In the poem, images such as the white dove, birds of prey, and the phoenix mirror one another, directing attention to the ills of rulers who are duplicitous, say one thing and do another, reap without sowing, are greedy and cruel, and hold themselves aloof in arrogance. Li Bai's characteristic exaggeration and contrast are concentrated here to considerable effect: readers encounter both vivid characterization and the poet's refusal to compromise. The edition prepared by Bashu Press makes the text directly accessible to contemporary readers. When reading, first clarify the imagistic roles carried by the white dove and the birds of prey, then grasp where the satire lands, and finally savor it in light of Li Bai's enduring romantic temperament and critical spirit. It is well suited as analytical material for a short allegorical poem in classroom discussion or a reading group.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Classical literature readers interested in Li Bai's poetry and the allegorical tradition
Teachers and students who need to analyze the technique of allegory through objects in the classroom
General readers who enjoy short classical poems with a sharp edge

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer purely lyrical works and dislike satirical content
Readers expecting a long work or a full biography of the poet

Reading tips

First distinguish the images corresponding to the white dove, the birds of prey, and the phoenix, then grasp the target of the satire.
Read the whole poem aloud, noting how changes in tone and rhythm reinforce the force of the critique.
Read it alongside Li Bai's other poems on objects or allegorical works to compare similarities and differences in technique.

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
赠王九孟浩然
登岘山亭，寄晋陵张少府孟浩然
送朱大入秦孟浩然
送友人之京孟浩然
送张郎中迁京孟浩然
同张将蓟门观灯孟浩然
张郎中梅园中孟浩然
北涧泛舟孟浩然
春晓孟浩然
洛中访袁拾遗不遇孟浩然
寻菊花潭主人不遇孟浩然
檀溪寻故人（一题作檀溪寻古）孟浩然
扬子津望京口孟浩然
同储十二洛阳道中作孟浩然
初下浙江舟中口号孟浩然
宿建德江孟浩然
问舟子孟浩然
戏题（一作戏赠主人）孟浩然
凉州词孟浩然
送新安张少府归秦中（一题作越中送人归秦中）孟浩然
送杜十四之江南（一题作送杜晃进士之东吴）孟浩然
渡浙江问舟中人（一题作济江问同舟人。一作崔国辅诗）孟浩然
初秋孟浩然
过融上人兰若孟浩然
句孟浩然
古风李白
远别离李白
公无渡河李白
蜀道难李白
梁甫吟李白
乌夜啼李白
乌栖曲李白
战城南李白
将进酒李白
行行游且猎篇李白
飞龙引二首李白
天马歌李白
行路难三首李白
长相思李白
上留田行李白
春日行李白
前有一樽酒行二首李白
夜坐吟李白
野田黄雀行李白
箜篌谣李白
雉朝飞李白
上云乐李白

FAQ

What does "Song of the White Dove" mainly satirize?

According to the source material, through images such as birds of prey and the phoenix, the poem criticizes rulers who are duplicitous, say one thing and do another, reap without sowing, are greedy and cruel, and hold themselves aloof in arrogance. When reading, pay attention to the contrasting relationships among the images to understand how the satire unfolds through allegory.

Why use the white dove to write satire?

In the poem, the white dove is set against images such as birds of prey, using the contrasts among the objects to convey criticism. This approach lets the satire emerge naturally through imagistic contrast rather than being stated outright, a common path in poems that satirize through allegory.

Do I need to know Li Bai's biography first to read this poem?

Not necessarily. A basic understanding can be gained by reading the text first and clarifying the images and where the satire lands; if you want to further appreciate the poet's critical stance, you can refer to Li Bai's other works, but you do not need biographical details to understand this poem.

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About the author

Li Bai Author · China

Li Bai, the leading figure of Tang-dynasty Romantic poetry, styled Taibai and known as the Green Lotus Lay Buddhist, was later honored as the "Poet Immortal." His ancestral home was Chengji in Longxi, and he lived in Shu as a youth before leaving at twenty-five to travel widely. In the early Tianbao era he was summoned to the capital as a Hanlin Attendant and later sent away with a gift of gold. During the An Lushan Rebellion he was implicated for joining the staff of Prince Li Lin of Yong, sentenced to exile in Yelang, and pardoned en route; in his later years he drifted through the southeast and died in Dangtu in the first year of Baoying. This library holds thirty-nine of his works, including the "Hard Is the Road" series and the two-volume complete works. His poetry is bold, free, and extraordinarily imaginative, often voicing the hardships of travel and reflections on life. He is paired with Du Fu as "Li and Du," and his collection has come down to us as the Li Taibai Collection.