The poem “Xingxiangzi: Returning Late from the Southern Mountain with Si Shou” was created by Su Shi in the Song Dynasty. Su Shi (1037-1101) was a literary figure, calligrapher, and foodie of the Northern Song Dynasty. His courtesy name is Zizhan and his literary name is Dongpo Jushi. Han ethnicity, Sichuan native, buried in Yingchang (now Jia County, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province). Throughout his life, his career was full of ups and downs, he was knowledgeable and gifted, and excelled in poetry, literature, painting, and calligraphy. His writings are unrestrained and clear, and he is known as one of the “Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties” along with Ouyang Xiu; Poetry is fresh, vigorous, and skillful in exaggeration and metaphor, with a unique artistic expression style, and is known as Su Huang alongside Huang Tingjian; The bold and unrestrained style of poetry had a great influence on later generations, and was known as Su Xin along with Xin Qiji; Calligraphy is good at running script and regular script, able to create new ideas, with rich and dramatic strokes, and has a childlike and romantic charm. It is known as one of the Four Masters of the Song Dynasty along with Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu, and Cai Xiang; The study of painting is similar in both literary and artistic aspects, advocating for a spirit of similarity in painting and promoting the concept of ‘literati painting’. He has written works such as “The Complete Works of Su Dongpo” and “Dongpo Yuefu”.
《行香子·与泗守过南山晚归作》是由宋代苏轼作创作的一首诗词。苏轼（1037－1101），北宋文学家、书画家、美食家。字子瞻，号东坡居士。汉族，四川人，葬于颍昌（今河南省平顶山市郏县）。一生仕途坎坷，学识渊博，天资极高，诗文书画皆精。其文汪洋恣肆，明白畅达，与欧阳修并称欧苏，为“唐宋八大家”之一；诗清新豪健，善用夸张、比喻，艺术表现独具风格，与黄庭坚并称苏黄；词开豪放一派，对后世有巨大影响，与辛弃疾并称苏辛；书法擅长行书、楷书，能自创新意，用笔丰腴跌宕，有天真烂漫之趣，与黄庭坚、米芾、蔡襄并称宋四家；画学文同，论画主张神似，提倡“士人画”。著有《苏东坡全集》和《东坡乐府》等。
苏轼·《行香子·与泗守游南山作》
北望平川，
野水荒湾，
共寻春、
飞步孱颜。
和风弄袖，
香雾萦鬟。
正酒酣时，
人语笑，
白云间。
孤鸿落照，
相将归去，
澹娟娟、
玉宇清闲。
何人无事，
宴坐空山。
望长桥上，
灯火乱，
使君还。
Xing Xiang Zi
Touring Nanshan2 with Governor of Sizhou3 and returning in the evening. Hence this composition.
Su Shi
At the vast plains in the north we gazed,
Wild streams and deserted ponds.
A mutual search for spring,
Over steep rocks we scurried.
While gentle winds toying with our sleeves,
And sweet mists encircling ladies’ hair-dresses.
High on wine were we,
When words and laughter
Heard
From the white clouds.
Flying swans glowed in the dying sun,
Returning one after another.
Quietly beautiful
And divinely serene.
Who’re those heavy with time,
Sitting as if in a trance in the empty hill?
Gazing down at Long Bridge
Dotted with random lights,
Governor led the way
Home.
1. This ci was composed in the 7th year of the Yuanfeng reign (1084).
2. Nanshan: literally South Moutain, a beautiful mountain in the southeast of Sizhou.
3. Sizhou: today’s Xuyi (盱眙), Jiangsu Province.
