Su Shi’s Poems: A Timeless Journey for Learners

Classical literature often feels distant to young students, but few writers bridge the gap between past and present like Su Shi (1037–1101). A towering figure of China’s Song Dynasty, Su Shi, also known as Dongpo, crafted poetry that blends vivid imagery, profound philosophy, and raw authenticity. For K-12 students, exploring his poems isn’t just about studying old verses; it’s about uncovering literary masterpieces that teach perspective, resilience, and the beauty of human experience. WuKong Education focuses on Su Shi’s most iconic poems, breaking down their text, pinyin, translations, and educational value, while showing how his words continue to inspire today.

Who Was Su Shi? A Brief Biography

To understand Su Shi’s poems, we must first grasp the life that shaped it. Born in Meishan (modern-day Sichuan) to a family of scholars, Su Shi’s talent shone early and he passed the imperial examination at 20, launching a career in government. Yet political conflicts led to repeated exiles, taking him from the bustling capital to remote lands like Huangzhou and Hainan. These trials of joy, sorrow, isolation, and connection became the heart of his writing. Unlike rigid classical poets of his time, Su Shi wrote with warmth and immediacy, turning everyday moments and life’s hardships into timeless verses. His poetry isn’t just “literature” and it’s a window into a life lived fully, making it perfect for young learners to explore.

The Unique Style of Su Shi’s Poems

Classical poetry can feel stiff, right? Not Su Shi’s. His style is like a friendly chat with a wise friend—warm, flexible, and surprisingly relatable. Let me break it down:

He turns “normal” into “extraordinary.” Su Shi did that with words. He’d write about bamboo staffs and straw shoes “lighter than a horse!” like they’re treasures, or describe a pork dish he invented with the same care he gave the moon. He didn’t need fancy topics, just life, in all its messy glory. And he’s honest, not preachy. When Su Shi felt sad, he wrote about it. When he missed his brother, he asked the moon why it had to shine brightest when they were apart. But he never wallowed. His poems always turn a corner: “Yeah, life’s hard, but look, the sun’s coming out.” That mix of “I get it” and “we’ll get through”? Kids need that.

He hides big ideas in small moments. Ever tried explaining “perspective” to a 10-year-old? Su Shi did it with a mountain. In one poem, he says Lushan Mountain looks like a range from the front, a peak from the side. “You just can’t see its true face ’cause you’re standing right in it.” Suddenly, a lesson about seeing both sides of an argument makes sense.

Five Famous Su Shi Poems

Su Shi’s poetry blends vivid imagery with profound insight, making it ideal for student exploration. Below are five iconic works, paired with pinyin, translations, and key takeaways for students.

1. “题西林壁 (Tí Xī Lín Bì)” – “Inscription on the Wall of Xilin Temple”

Original Text:
横看成岭侧成峰，
远近高低各不同。
不识庐山真面目，
只缘身在此山中。

Pinyin:
Héng kàn chéng lǐng cè chéng fēng,
Yuǎn jìn gāo dī gè bù tóng.
Bù shí Lú Shān zhēn miàn mù,
Zhǐ yuán shēn zài cǐ shān zhōng.

English Translation:
Viewed horizontally, it’s a range of mountains; viewed from the side, it’s a peak.
Near or far, high or low, it looks different.
I can’t see the true face of Mount Lushan,
Simply because I’m in the middle of the mountain.

Written during a trip to Lushan Mountain, this short poem is a masterclass in perspective. For students, it’s a perfect introduction to critical thinking: how our position shapes what we see.

2. “饮湖上初晴后雨二首・其二 (Yǐn Hú Shàng Chū Qíng Hòu Yǔ Èr Shǒu・Qí Èr)” – “Drinking by the West Lake: First Sunny, Then Rainy (Second Poem)”

Original Text:
水光潋滟晴方好，
山色空蒙雨亦奇。
欲把西湖比西子，
淡妆浓抹总相宜。

Pinyin:
Shuǐ guāng liàn yàn qíng fāng hǎo,
Shān sè kōng méng yǔ yì qí.
Yù bǎ Xī Hú bǐ Xī Zǐ,
Dàn zhuāng nóng mǒ zǒng xiāng yí.

English Translation:
The lake shimmers brightly in the sunshine—what beauty!
The mountains look misty in the rain—equally wonderful!
If I were to compare the West Lake to Xi Shi (a famous beauty),
Whether lightly made up or heavily painted, she’s always charming.

Su Shi’s love letter to Hangzhou’s West Lake teaches students about appreciating beauty in all forms. The metaphor of comparing the lake to Xi Shi, a legendary beauty, introduces the concept of metaphor and symbolism. It also encourages students to find beauty in changing circumstances.

3. “定风波・莫听穿林打叶声 (Dìng Fēng Bō・Mò Tīng Chuān Lín Dǎ Yè Shēng)” – “Calm the Storm: Don’t Listen to the Sound of Rain Beating Leaves Through the Forest”

Original Text:
莫听穿林打叶声，何妨吟啸且徐行。
竹杖芒鞋轻胜马，谁怕？一蓑烟雨任平生。
料峭春风吹酒醒，微冷，山头斜照却相迎。
回首向来萧瑟处，归去，也无风雨也无晴。

Pinyin:
Mò tīng chuān lín dǎ yè shēng, hé fáng yín xiào qiě xú xíng.
Zhú zhàng máng xié qīng shèng mǎ, shuí pà? Yī suō yān yǔ rèn píng shēng.
Liào qiào chūn fēng chuī jiǔ xǐng, wēi lěng, shān tóu xié zhào què xiāng yíng.
Huí shǒu xiàng lái xiāo sè chù, guī qù, yě wú fēng yǔ yě wú qíng.

English Translation:
Don’t listen to the sound of rain beating leaves through the forest; why not sing and walk slowly?
Bamboo staff and straw shoes are lighter than a horse—who’s afraid? A coir raincoat, misty rain, let life be as it is.
A chilly spring wind blows, sobering me from wine; a little cold, but the slanting sunlight on the mountain top greets me.
Looking back at the desolate place I came from, going back—there’s neither wind and rain nor sunshine.

Written during Su Shi’s exile in Huangzhou, this poem serves as a poignant lesson in resilience. For students facing stress or setbacks, lines like “who’s afraid?” model courage. It teaches that life’s challenges and joys are temporary. What matters is how we carry ourselves. Perfect for discussions on emotional resilience.

4. “水调歌头・明月几时有 (Shuǐ Diào Gē Tóu・Míng Yuè Jǐ Shí Yǒu)” – “Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear?”

Original Text:
明月几时有？把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年。
我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人间。
转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

Pinyin:
Míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu? Bǎ jiǔ wèn qīng tiān. Bù zhī tiān shàng gōng què, jīn xī shì hé nián.
Wǒ yù chéng fēng guī qù, yòu kǒng qióng lóu yù yǔ, gāo chù bù shèng hán. Qǐ wǔ nòng qīng yǐng, hé sì zài rén jiān.
Zhuǎn zhū gé, dī qǐ hù, zhào wú mián. Bù yīng yǒu hèn, hé shì cháng xiàng bié shí yuán?
Rén yǒu bēi huān lí hé, yuè yǒu yīn qíng yuán quē, cǐ shì gǔ nán quán. Dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān.

English Translation:
When will the bright moon appear? Holding a wine cup, I ask the clear sky. I don’t know the palaces in the sky—what year is it tonight?
I want to ride the wind back, but fear the jade towers and palaces in the sky—too cold at such heights. Dancing with my clear shadow—how is it like being in the mortal world?
It turns around red pavilions, hangs low over embroidered windows, shining on the sleepless. It shouldn’t hold grudges—why is it always full when people are apart?
People have joys and sorrows, partings and reunions; the moon has dimness and brightness, fullness and wane. This has never been perfect since ancient times. May people live long, sharing the beautiful moon even thousands of miles apart.

A mid-autumn classic, this poem explores themes of longing, imperfection, and connection. For students, it normalizes feelings of missing loved ones while teaching acceptance of life’s “imperfections.” The closing wish, “may people live long, sharing the moon,” encourages empathy and global thinking.

5. “江城子・密州出猎 (Jiāng Chéng Zǐ・Mì Zhōu Chū Liè)” – “River City Song: Hunting in Mizhou”

Original Text:
老夫聊发少年狂，左牵黄，右擎苍，锦帽貂裘，千骑卷平冈。
为报倾城随太守，亲射虎，看孙郎。
酒酣胸胆尚开张，鬓微霜，又何妨！持节云中，何日遣冯唐？
会挽雕弓如满月，西北望，射天狼。

Pinyin:
Lǎo fū liáo fā shào nián kuáng, zuǒ qiān huáng, yòu qíng cāng, jǐn mào diāo qiú, qiān qí juǎn píng gāng.
Wèi bào qīng chéng suí tài shǒu, qīn shè hǔ, kàn Sūn Láng.
Jiǔ hān xiōng dǎn shàng kāi zhāng, bìn wēi shuāng, yòu hé fáng! Chí jié yún zhōng, hé rì qiǎn Féng Táng?
Huì wǎn diāo gōng rú mǎn yuè, xī běi wàng, shè tiān láng.

English Translation:
This old man briefly unleashes his youthful madness: left hand leading a yellow dog, right hand holding a gray eagle; in brocade hat and sable coat, a thousand riders sweep across the flat hill.
To repay the whole city for following the prefect, I’ll personally shoot a tiger, like Lord Sun (Sun Ce).
Intoxicated, my heart and courage are still bold; though my temples are slightly frosty—so what! Holding the festival in the clouds, when will Feng Tang be sent (to recall me)?
I will draw the carved bow like a full moon, look northwest, and shoot the Sirius (symbolizing the enemy).

This energetic poem showcases Su Shi’s unyielding spirit. Even in middle age, he retains his “youthful madness,” teaching students that age or setbacks don’t diminish passion. It’s a great example of how poetry can convey strength and purpose, sparking discussions about ambition and perseverance.

Why Su Shi’s Poetry Matters for K-12 Learners

Su Shi’s poems aren’t just old lines on a page, and they’re like secret keys that unlock growth for kids.

Cultural literacy isn’t just about memorizing dates; it’s about feeling connected to a culture’s heart. When kids read how Su Shi described market days in ancient Hangzhou or shared meals with farmers during exile, they’re not just learning “history”—they’re seeing real people who laughed, struggled, and found joy, just like them. Poetry turns “ancient China” into a world they can relate to.

Literary skills? Su Shi makes them feel like play, not work. Take “Drinking by the West Lake”—when he compares the lake to a beauty in “light or heavy makeup,” kids don’t just “learn metaphor”… they get it. They start pointing out their own metaphors: “My dog’s tail is a wagging flag!” Suddenly, “imagery” isn’t a vocabulary word, and it’s the way they describe their morning cereal or a rainy recess.

Wukong Chinese Course Advantages for Learning Su Shi Poem

Wukong Chinese’s courses are designed to make classical literature engaging and accessible for K-12 learners, with unique advantages:

1. Interactive Multimedia Lessons: Su Shi’s poems come to life through animations, voiceovers, and visual aids.
2. Cultural Context Integration: Lessons don’t just teach poems—they explore Su Shi’s life, including stories like Dongpo Pork, connecting his writing to his experiences.
3. Differentiated Learning: Courses adapt to students’ levels, with simplified analyses for younger learners and deeper dives for older students.
4. Native Teacher Guidance: Certified teachers lead live sessions, explaining nuances in Su Shi’s language and answering questions in real time. As one parent noted: “My child went from finding classical poetry ‘boring’ to asking to learn more about Su Shi after Wukong lessons.”

Conclusion

Su Shi’s poems transcend time because they speak to the heart of what it means to be human is to face hardship with courage, find beauty in change, and cherish connection. For K-12 students, his poems aren’t just “classics”, and they’re friends, offering wisdom, inspiration, and a lifelong love of literature. With tools like WuKong Chinese, these verses become accessible, engaging, and transformative, proving that great poetry doesn’t just belong to the past—it belongs to every young learner ready to discover its magic.