“Temple of the First Lord of Shu” is a five-character regulated verse written by Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi, which was selected into the Complete Tang Poems. The Temple of the First Lord of Shu was originally built on Baidi Mountain in Kuizhou (the seat of government is now in the east of Fengjie County, Chongqing City). Liu Yuxi served as the governor of Kuizhou from the first year of Changqing (821) to the fourth year (824) of Emperor Muzong of Tang Dynasty, and this poem should have been written at that time. This poem is intended to praise heroes and despise mediocrity. It praises Liu Bei’s achievements, laments that the successors of Shu Han’s cause are not good, and summarizes the historical lessons of the fall of Shu Han. The first couplet describes the imposing power of the first lord in the temple, the second couplet praises Liu Bei’s heroic deeds, the third couplet sighs for Liu Bei’s unsuccessful achievements and the unworthy heir, and the last couplet laments the fall of the later lord. The whole poem is concise and sharp, the parallelism is sharp and neat, the style is calm and transcendent, the first half describes merits and virtues, and the second half describes decline, which is a warning to the world with images.
《蜀先主庙》是唐代诗人刘禹锡创作的一首五言律诗，被选人《全唐诗》中。蜀先主庙原建在夔州（治所在今重庆市奉节县东）白帝山上。刘禹锡曾于唐穆宗长庆元年（821年）到四年（824年）间任夔州刺史，此诗当作于此时。此诗意在赞誉英雄，鄙薄庸碌，赞扬了刘备的功业，慨叹蜀汉事业后继非人，总结蜀汉亡国的历史教训。首联写先主庙堂威势逼人，颔联赞刘备的英雄业绩，颈联为刘备功业未成、嗣子不肖而叹息，尾联感叹后主亡国。全诗措词精警凝炼，对仗警辟工整，风格沉着超迈，前半写功德，后半写衰败，以形象垂戒当世。
刘禹锡·《蜀先主庙》
天地英雄气，千秋尚凛然。
势分三足鼎，业复五铢钱。
得相能开国，生儿不象贤。
凄凉蜀故妓，来舞魏宫前。
At the Temple of Liu Bei
Liu Yuxi
A hero he was! In Cathay, he had no peers.
His lasting name will survive all the passing years.
Among the Three Kingdoms, his had the mightiest reign;
Our land’s ancient glory, he strove hard to regain.
Prestige earned him a wise premier, prop of the state;
Time left his throne to a frail son, the will of fate.
Sadly the captive girls came to dance for the foe,
While his son drank by, sensing not the sign of woe.
