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Li Pai (701–762) wrote this poem in 758 when he stopped to visit Wuchang’s Yellow Crane Tower after being released from prison for his involvement in the revolt of the emperor’s brother. In some editions this poem is titled “Written on the North Gazebo Stele.” On one of the tower’s stories were four gazebos from which to view the four directions. The north gazebo faced the place where the Han River joins the Yangtze from the west. Li Pai is on his way south to Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan, and looks back up the Han toward Ch’ang-an. This tower was built in A.D. 223, shortly after the end of the Han dynasty, in honor of the Taoist immortal Fei Wen-wei, who rode off from here on a yellow crane and who sometimes returned to play his jade flute. “Plum Blossoms Fall” was the name of a tune for the flute. The plum is said to transcend winter’s adversity and normally blooms during New Year. In the background of this poem is the Han-dynasty poet Chia Yi (200–168 B.C.), who was unjustly banished to Changsha for his frank and unwelcome advice and with whom Li Pai clearly identifies.

On Yellow Crane Tower Hearing a Flute

LI PAI

Suddenly an exile on the way to Changsha

looking back toward Ch’ang-an I don’t see a soul

from Yellow Crane Tower I hear a jade flute

plum blossoms fall in this city in June