Huang Tingjian's poem about pines and cypresses is as follows:
The pines at the bottom of the gloomy stream stand tall in the frost and snow.
What is the use of knowing the whole world? I am ashamed of myself.
Things may change several times, but this ambition will never change.
The green pines and cypress branches have weathered the wind and rain.
Wouldn’t it be frost and snow? Pines and cypresses have their own nature.
The best among people are those who stand alone.
Time is like running water, and a hundred years pass by in an instant.
The pines and cypresses are still there, and the heroic appearance can be seen in awe.
The poem uses pines and cypresses as the theme. Through the tenacious and unyielding images of pines and cypresses, it expresses the author's praise for the firm belief and tenacious fighting spirit. At the same time, the poem itself also demonstrates Huang Tingjian's profound literary skills and unique artistic style.
The first sentence, "The gloomy pines at the bottom of the stream", uses pine trees growing at the bottom of the stream, vividly depicting the tenacious growth and unyielding vitality of pine trees. Then, "Standing in Frost and Snow" further emphasizes that pines and cypresses can still hold their heads high and stand tall in the harsh environment. The frost and snow here symbolize the difficulties and setbacks in life, while the pines and cypresses represent firm belief and courage to face them.
"What is the use of knowing the world, but the greenness is not shameful", these two poems mean that the pines and cypresses are not used by the world, but they are still green and full of vitality. This is a tribute to the spirit of pines and cypresses, and also to those who stick to their beliefs in difficult situations and are not shaken by the world.
The following "Things have changed several times, but this ambition will never change" expresses the author's persistent pursuit of firm belief. No matter how the world changes, the nature of pine and cypress will never change, and it will always maintain its tenacity and persistence. Here, pines and cypresses have become a spiritual symbol, inspiring people to stick to their beliefs in difficult situations and never give up.
"Wouldn't it be frost and snow, pines and cypresses have their own nature?" These two lines of poems further emphasize the tenacity and bravery of pines and cypresses. Even in the face of the devastation of frost and snow, pine and cypress can survive tenaciously because of their firm belief and tenacious vitality.
Finally, "The years are like flowing water, and a hundred years pass in an instant. The pines and cypresses are still there, and the heroic figures can be seen in awe." These two poems mean that with the passage of time, the years are gone like flowing water and will never return. But the pines and cypresses still stood there, showing their tenacity and unyielding heroic appearance. Here, through the praise of pines and cypresses, the author expresses his spiritual praise to those who have persisted in their faith and faced it bravely over the years.
In general, Huang Tingjian was a famous writer and calligrapher in the Northern Song Dynasty, and together with Du Fu and Chen Shidao, he was known as the "Three Great Masters of Song Poetry". His poems are famous for their freshness, refinement and profound meaning, and he is especially good at writing landscape poems. Among his poems, there is a poem describing pines and cypresses, which is full of philosophical and aesthetic taste and is endlessly memorable. The poem "Pine and Cypress" expresses praise for firm belief and tenacious fighting spirit by describing the image of pines and cypresses.