Zhou Dunyi's "Shuo Ai Lian"
Said: "Shuo" is a literary style used in ancient times to explain affairs by means of narration, discussion or explanation. It can explain affairs and make arguments. Or narrative narratives are all intended to illustrate a truth, often using an event or a phenomenon to express the author's views on certain things or issues, and the length is generally not long. It is roughly similar to today's essays.
"The Theory of Love of Lotus" is a prose written by Zhou Dunyi, a Neo-Confucian scholar in the Northern Song Dynasty. This article praises the steadfast character of the lotus through the description of the image and quality of the lotus, thereby also showing the author's noble personality and generous mind that is pure and self-respecting.
Original text: The flowers of land and water are so lovely that they are very beautiful. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums; since the Li and Tang Dynasties, the world has loved peony
Pan; I only love the lotus which emerges from the mud but is not stained; The branches are fragrant and clear from a distance, and the pavilions and pavilions are clean and planted. You can look at them from a distance but don't play with them.
I say chrysanthemum, the flower that represents seclusion; peony, the flower that represents wealth; lotus, the flower that represents the gentleman. Alas! The love of chrysanthemums is rarely heard of after Tao; the love of lotus, who can share it? The love of peony is suitable for everyone.
Translation:
There are many flowers, plants and trees on the water and on the land that are worthy of love. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Since the Tang Dynasty, people in the world have loved peonies very much. I only love the lotus. It grows out of the mud but is not contaminated with dirt. It has been washed in clear water but does not look charming. Its stems are straight in the middle and straight in appearance. They have no branches or branches and their fragrance spreads far and wide. More fragrant, standing there straight and clean, you can watch it from a distance but you can't play with it.
I believe that the chrysanthemum is the hermit among flowers; the peony is the rich and noble among flowers; and the lotus is the gentleman among flowers. well! Love of chrysanthemums is rarely heard of after Tao Yuanming. Who else has the same love for lotus as me? Of course, many people love peonies.
Thank you!