Hanging Scroll with Song Lyrics by Li Qingzhao – 1

This handcrafted Hanging Scroll with Song Lyrics by Li Qingzhao combines traditional Chinese art with the timeless beauty of classical poetry. Its tender green background is adorned with intricate dark green cloud patterns, a motif symbolizing prosperity and elegance in Chinese culture.

The Meaning and Origin of the Words

Li Qingzhao’s “Wuling Spring – Late Spring” is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the sorrow of personal loss and the aching emptiness that lingers after joy has passed. Written in her later years—after her homeland had been lost to war and her beloved husband had passed away—this poem is a quiet yet devastating expression of grief, memory, and solitude.

Original Poem Text:

風住塵香花已盡，日晚倦梳頭。
物是人非事事休，欲語淚先流。
聞說雙溪春尚好，也擬泛輕舟。
只恐雙溪舴艋舟，載不動許多愁。

The opening lines set a delicate, melancholic tone:

“The wind has stilled, the scent of blossoms fades.”

Spring is drawing to a close. The flowers have fallen, the fragrance that once filled the air now lingers faintly in the dust. The world that was once full of life has turned quiet. This stillness, rather than comforting, feels heavy and desolate.

“Too weary to comb my hair…”

This line reveals a deep emotional fatigue—so profound that even the simple act of grooming feels pointless. It is not physical exhaustion, but a kind of sorrow that seeps into the body, making everyday life feel burdensome and empty.

“Everything is the same, but the people are gone; all is meaningless now.”

Here, the poet captures a universal truth about grief: the world may remain unchanged—the same streets, the same trees, the same spring—but without the people we love, it all feels hollow. The contrast between the permanence of nature and the impermanence of human relationships deepens the emotional impact.

“I want to speak, but tears come first.”

Her sorrow is so overwhelming that even language fails her. The emotions rise unbidden, and tears flow before words can form. It is a moment of complete vulnerability and silence—a powerful image of unspeakable grief.

In the second half of the poem, there’s a glimmer of movement—a thought of escape:

“They say spring is still lovely by the Shuangxi River; I thought of taking a boat ride.”

This moment offers a brief, fragile hope. Perhaps she could leave her sorrow behind, find peace in nature, let the fresh air and flowing water soothe her spirit. But even this small wish is burdened:

“But I fear the little boat cannot carry so much sorrow.”

This closing line is profoundly poetic—her grief has become so heavy, so vast, that even the gentle river and the boat that floats upon it are not enough to hold it. It’s not just sadness—it is the sense that pain has no outlet, that even beauty cannot rescue her from memory.

Together, these lines paint a picture of quiet devastation, of a woman alone with her memories, watching spring fade just as joy has faded from her life. Yet within the sadness lies a deep emotional strength: Li Qingzhao never dramatizes her sorrow—she expresses it with restraint, grace, and piercing clarity.

This poem is more than a personal lament. It speaks to anyone who has loved and lost, who has watched the seasons change while their inner world remained frozen in longing. It reminds us that poetry can hold sorrow gently—and give it shape, voice, and meaning.

About the Poet

Li Qingzhao is one of China’s most celebrated poets and is widely regarded as the greatest female poet of the Song Dynasty. Born into a scholarly family, she was highly educated and developed a deep love for literature from an early age. Unlike many women of her time, she had the freedom to study, write, and express her thoughts through poetry.

She is best known for her ci poetry (词)—a lyrical form that was often set to music. Her works stand out for their elegance, emotional depth, and keen sensitivity to love, loss, and the passage of time. In her early years, her poetry was lighthearted and playful, reflecting the joy of love and intellectual companionship with her husband, Zhao Mingcheng (赵明诚), a scholar and calligrapher. However, after his death and the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, her later poems became filled with sorrow and longing, reflecting her personal grief and the turbulence of the times.

As a female poet in a male-dominated literary world, Li Qingzhao broke barriers with her bold and expressive writing. Her poems offer a rare and intimate glimpse into the emotions of a woman in ancient China—her joys, her sorrows, and her resilience. She is often referred to as “the greatest female poet of China” (千古第一才女), and her works continue to be celebrated for their beauty and emotional power.

Through her poetry, she gave voice to the depth of human emotions, making her legacy timeless.

Why Choose This Hanging Scroll with Song Lyrics?

This calligraphy artworks expresses a profound sense of personal loss, nostalgia, and emotional exhaustion. It speaks of spring’s beauty, but also of how that beauty feels empty when the past is gone and loved ones are no longer there. The final lines are especially powerful—her sorrow is so deep that even a boat might sink under its weight.