Zoë McCully
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5 10 IB
May 27, 2012

Chinese Literature Assignment

Wang Wei Poems: Suffering from Heat
The dominant impression of this poem is very Buddhist idea that earthly life is full of suffering, and one can find peace once they accept this, because understanding leads to enlightenment. This theme is shown through imagery, repetition, and tone.

Wang Wei uses imagery in this poem to show the bitterness of life. The desolate and unforgiving landscape described supports this. “Grasses and trees are all parched and shriveled; Rivers and swamps, all utterly dried” (Suffering from Heat, 4-5). Even nature suffers on earth, in this poem it is in the form of drought. “In Light white silks I feel that my clothes are heavy; Under dense trees I grieve that the shade is thin. My mat of rushes cannot be approached; My clothes of linen are washed again and again” (6-10). Wang Wei describes his personal suffering in these lines. His clothes are light but feel heavy, showing the oppressive nature of earthly suffering. Wang Wei also says “My mat of rushes cannot be approached” (9) showing that he is unable to sleep because his distress is so great. He feels dirty because no amount of washing can cleanse him of the heaviness he feels from attachment to possessions, which is represented by his clothes. This imagery supports the buddhist idea that suffering comes from attachment to earthly pleasures.

Repetition is used to emphasise Wang Wei’s physical condition. “My clothes of linen are washed again and again” (10) The repetition shows Wang Wei’s unenlightened human condition. The repetition occurs right before the transition to the paragraph describing his desire for enlightenment and peace, forming a sort of climax to the poem.

The tone of this poem is very negative in the first paragraph, but changes to a positive tone in the second paragraph when Wei describes his desire to be cleansed from the troubles of the earth. When he speaks about the freedom of enlightenment he shows his understanding of the buddhist process of enlightenment. The contrasting tones of the two paragraphs show the difference between life on earth and enlightenment and life in Nirvana. The first paragraph describes in detail the features of a land suffering from drought and the second paragraph describes the healing power of water, and how water can restore a dying landscape, or a dying individual. “Rivers and seas would cleanse me of trouble and dirt” (15-16). The “trouble and dirt” he speaks of reference his inability to sleep and his dirty clothes described in the first paragraph. The description of overcrowded “Fiery clouds packed into hills and mountains” (2-3) contrast with the openness he longs for, “I long to escape beyond space and time; In vast emptiness, dwell and alone and apart” (11-12). Another contrast is shown with the heat described in the first paragraph which makes the reader think of Hell. The second paragraph doesn’t speak of heat and fire, but says “I would suddenly enter the Gate of Pleasant Dew and be at ease in the clear, cool joy” (20-21). The imagery of Dew, and the words clear and cool make the reader think of water. The Gate of Pleasant Dew could be interpreted as a gateway to heaven, since the idea heaven could be compared to the Buddhist idea of Nirvana. This supports the contrasting tones of the two paragraphs that emphasise the differences between earth and enlightenment. Wei shows his desire for enlightenment, giving the end of the poem a longing tone, “Then would I find that my body causes suffering; Then would I know that my mind is still unawake” (12-14). This quote is emphasised by the repetition of the words “Then would I” showing that Wang Wei truly desires to achieve enlightenment, and leave a world of drought for a life of peace and ease.