Seven-Character Quatrain: To My Father[1]

(1910)

The child resolves to leave his native pass,[2]

Swearing not to return without achieved fame in class.

Why must one’s bones be buried on ancestral ground?[3]

In life, there is no place without green hills renowned.[4]

[1] Seven-Character Quatrain, short for seven-character truncated verse. Father, Mao Zedong’s father Mao Yichang (1870–1920), courtesy name Shunsheng, literary name Liangbi. Born on the 21st day of the 9th month of the 9th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (October 5, 1870), died on the 3rd day of the 12th month of the 8th year of the Republic of China (January 23, 1920), at the age of 50.

[2] Native pass, home village, hometown.

[3] Mulberry and catalpa, in ancient times mulberry and catalpa trees were often planted beside the family dwelling; seeing them easily stirred thoughts of one’s parents, and later they were used as a metonym for one’s native place. “Why must one’s bones be buried on ancestral ground” means, after death, why must one necessarily be buried in one’s hometown.

[4] Green hills, symbolizing the beautiful mountains and rivers of the motherland. “In life, there is no place without green hills renowned” means, continuing from the previous line, everywhere in the motherland there are beautiful mountains and rivers that can serve as places of rest. These two lines also convey the meaning that a true man sets his aspirations far and wide, and a good son makes his home wherever he goes.

Mao Zedong’s father Mao Yichang.

Reference photograph

Mao Zedong’s mother Wen Qimei.