長恨歌

A narrative poem traces a monarch's intense attachment to a favored woman, portraying their life of courtly splendor and intimate indulgence. A sudden rebellion brings flight and the beloved's tragic death, leaving the ruler overcome with grief. The poem moves through memories of unchanged palaces, the solitude of former attendants, and the seasonal images that deepen mourning. It describes the ruler's desperate resort to occult rites and long searches for her spirit across earthly and heavenly realms. The work ends with an enduring vow of love and sorrow, rendered in poignant nature imagery of paired birds and entwined branches.