These little officials in Caozhou County are always caring about each branch and leaf.
Original text
From "Poems on Ink Bamboo Pictures" by Zheng Xie of the Qing Dynasty
I was lying in Yazhai listening to the rustling bamboos, which were suspected to be the sounds of folk suffering.
These little officials in Caozhou County are always caring about each branch and leaf.
Appreciation
Xiao Xiao: The sound of bamboo branches and leaves shaking. ?
Some small: small.
Guanqing: affects feelings.
Ya Zhai: The place where official Yan lives in the Yamen.
Me: We.
Cao: Generation.
One branch and one leaf: every move, also refers to the branches and leaves in the painting.
Word annotation On a cold, windy and rainy night, I was lying down and resting in the county government office. I heard the wind rustling the bamboo leaves and the sound of gold and stone. I immediately thought it was the complaints of the people crying out for hunger and cold. As small state and county officials as we are, every move of the common people affects our emotions.
This is a poem on a painting. The poet started by writing about bamboos and expressed his ambitions with objects in mind. His words were humble and euphemistic, expressing his worries and concern for the people, as well as his sense of responsibility and the mentality of an upright official.
The language of the whole poem is simple and does not need to be piled with allusions. It not only embodies wisdom and self-encouragement, but also contains the meaning of mutual kindness and kindness. The elegance and excellence of the bamboo naturally complement the noble integrity of the poet's sleeves. The four-line poem embodies the poet's sincere and persistent humanitarian feelings for the people. It is an excellent work among poems on paintings.
About the author
Zheng Banqiao (Zheng Xie) (1693～1765) was a Chinese painter, calligrapher and writer in the Qing Dynasty. The courtesy name was Kerou, the name was Banqiao, and he was a native of Xinghua, Jiangsu. He was born in 1693 and died in 1765. He was a scholar of Kangxi, a scholar of Yongzheng, and a Jinshi of Qianlong. He lives in Yangzhou and makes a living by selling paintings. He once served as the magistrate of Weixian County and has a history of calligraphy and painting.