Taohua Stream
Zhang Xu
The flying bridge is faintly separated by wild smoke, and fishing boats are on the west bank of Shiji.
The peach blossoms follow the flowing water all day long. Where is the cave at the clear stream?
Poem interpretation
Notes:
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1. Flying bridge: high bridge.
2. Shiji: A pile of rocks exposed in the river.
3. Cave: refers to the entrance of the cave found by the Wuling fishermen in "Peach Blossom Spring".
Rhyme translation:
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I vaguely saw a long bridge, cut off by wild smoke;
At Shiyu On the west bank of the river, I asked about the fishing boat.
The peach blossoms drift endlessly with the flowing water all day long;
Which section of the Qingxi River is the entrance to the Peach Blossom Spring?
Poetry Appreciation
This is a landscape poem written based on the artistic conception of Tao Qian's "Peach Blossom Spring". The poem was written from far away, describing the deep and secluded valley, the confusion
being in a trance, hazy through the smoke, and the environment is like a fairy. Then the camera moves closer, depicting peach blossoms and flowing water, fishing boats floating lightly, questioning fishermen, and looking for peach lands.
The conception of the poem is graceful, the artistic conception is like a painting, the scenery is sentimental, and the interest is profound. Hengtang retired scholar commented: "Four sentences
are worth an article of "Peach Blossom Spring"." This is not unreasonable.
The flying bridge is faintly separated by wild smoke, and fishing boats are on the west bank of Shiji.
The "flying bridge" flickers in and out, appearing and disappearing; the "wild smoke" curls up and lingers. The still bridge flies like a rainbow in the elegant smoke; the floating smoke hangs in the air like a curtain on the silent bridge. In the wild mountains and valleys, dynamic objects and static scenery are intertwined and complement each other. The hazyness of the distant mountains and the clarity of the nearby water suddenly make the poet feel like he has entered an illusory world. Therefore, the poet felt that he was standing next to the ancient Shiji of the Jin Dynasty. The fisherman gently rocking the fishing boat in the stream seemed to be the Wuling fisherman who "walked along the stream". Then, the word "ask" came out of his mouth.
The peach blossoms follow the flowing water all day long. Where is the cave at the clear stream?
Eyes full of pink, flowing brightly in the quiet stream, the poet naturally associates it with the "water source at the end of the forest", like a bright "hole", which leads all the way to It is impossible for a fisherman to know where this cave is, and neither can a poet. However, this question reveals the poet's despair that his ideal realm is elusive
Introduction:
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Peach Blossom Creek: The name of the water is Taoyuan Cave in the southwest of today's Taoyuan County, Hunan Province, and Taohua Creek in the north of the cave.
Taohua Creek is at the foot of Taoyuan Mountain in Taoyuan County, Hunan. There are many peach groves on the banks of the stream. In late spring, the fallen flowers are colorful and the stream is flowing with clouds. It is said that Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Spring" in the Eastern Jin Dynasty was set here. Although the Peach Blossom Creek described by Zhang Xu does not necessarily refer to this place, it implicitly uses its artistic conception. This poem has a graceful conception, profound sentiment, and rich painting meaning.
"The flying bridge is faintly separated by the wild smoke", which is fascinating from the beginning: deep in the mountains and wild valleys, clouds and smoke are lingering; looking through the clouds and smoke, the long bridge across the mountain stream appears and disappears, as if there is something there. It seems like nothing, as if flying in the void. This realm is so deep, mysterious, and hazy, like entering a fairyland. Here, the static bridge and the floating wild smoke complement each other: the wild smoke makes the bridge turn static into movement, making it ethereal and fly in the sky; the bridge turns wild smoke into movement into stillness, just like hanging a light gauze curtain. Looking at the bridge through this curtain makes people feel a hazy beauty. The word "spar" makes the two scenery complement each other and merge into an artistic whole; the word "spar" also implies that the poet is looking from a distance. If he were standing by the bridge, he would not have the feeling of "separation".
The following is a close-up view. Nearby, rugged rocks are exposed in the water, like islands (Shiji); on the stream with fallen flowers drifting, there are fishing boats gently rocking, and the scenery is quiet and bright. "Asking about fishing boats on the west bank of Shiji", with the word "ask", the poet has also entered the painting. From this landscape painting, we can see both the beauty of the landscape and the mood of the characters.
Han Yu of the Tang Dynasty praised it in his "Preface to Master Gao Xian": "Happiness, anger, embarrassment, sadness, joy, resentment, longing, drunkenness, boredom, injustice, whatever moves the heart, must be expressed in cursive writing. Looking at things, one can see mountains, rivers, cliffs and valleys, birds, beasts, insects and fish, vegetation and flowers, sun, moon and stars, wind, rain, fire, thunder and thunder, songs, dances and battles, changes in things in the world, joy and astonishment, all of which are contained in books, so the book of the rising sun , Changes like ghosts and gods, unpredictable, and will be famous for the rest of his life. "This is a true portrayal of a true artist's persistence in art. No wonder later generations have praised and criticized Ou, Yu, Chu, Yan, Liu, Su, etc. when discussing Tang calligraphy, but they all praise Zhang Xu. This is unique in the history of art.
The handwritten writings handed down from ancient times include "Tie of Belly Pain" and "Four Notes of Ancient Poems".