The bamboo stick and mango shoes are easier than the horse, who is afraid? A coop of mist and rain will last a lifetime.

From

Ding Fengbo·Don’t listen to the sound of beating leaves in the forest

Su Shi? [Song Dynasty]

On March 7, Sha When it rains in the middle of the lake, the rain gear goes out first. Everyone in the group is embarrassed, but I alone don’t notice. It's already clear, so I wrote this (word).

Don’t listen to the sound of beating leaves through the forest, why not scream and walk slowly. Bamboo sticks and mango shoes are easier than horses, who is afraid? A coop of mist and rain will last a lifetime.

The steep spring breeze blows away the drunkenness, it is slightly cold, but the mountain tops are shining slantingly. Looking back at the desolate place where I came from, there was neither wind, rain nor sunshine.

Translation and annotations

Translation

On March 7, the fifth year of Yuanfeng, Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty (1082), it rained on Shahu Road. Some people left first with rain gear. Everyone traveling with them felt very embarrassed, but I didn’t feel so. After a while, the sky cleared up, so I composed this poem.

Don’t pay attention to the sound of rain hitting the leaves in the forest, why not let go of your throat and chant a long whistle and walk calmly. Carrying a bamboo stick and wearing mango shoes, I walk more easily than riding a horse. I wear a raincoat and let the wind blow and rain, and I still live my life!

The cool spring breeze woke me up from my drunkenness, and it was slightly cold, but the setting sun on the top of the mountain greeted me at the right time. Looking back at the windy and bleak place I came to, I walked back, no matter it was windy or rainy or sunny.

Notes

Ding Fengbo: the name of the word brand.

Shahu: Thirty miles southeast of Huanggang, Hubei Province, it is also known as the screw shop.

Embarrassment: A state of embarrassment in which it is difficult to advance or retreat.

That’s it: after a while.

The sound of beating leaves through the forest: refers to the sound of heavy raindrops hitting the leaves through the forest.

Yin Xiao: chant and roar.

Mango shoes: straw sandals.

You can live your whole life in the mist and rain: wearing a raincoat and spending your whole life in the wind and rain, you can be calm.一蓑 (suō): coir raincoat, a poncho made of brown.

Quiet: slightly cold.

Oblique light: westward sunlight.

Always: just now. Desolation: The sound of wind and rain blowing leaves.

Neither wind, rain nor sunshine: It means neither afraid of rain nor happy with sunshine.

Appreciation

This poem is a poem about returning drunk and encountering the rain. The poet uses his leisurely and unrestrained behavior in the rain to express his stubborn character and broad-minded mind that he is not afraid of being discouraged despite repeated setbacks in adversity. The whole poem is evocative of the scene and the language is humorous.

The first sentence "Don't listen to the sound of beating leaves through the forest", on the one hand, exaggerates the violent rain and wind, and on the other hand, the word "Don't listen" points out that external objects are not enough to linger. "Why not scream and walk slowly" is an extension of the previous sentence. Walking slowly and leisurely in the rain as usual, echoes the short preface "Everyone in the group is embarrassed, but I alone don't realize it", which also leads to the following "Who is afraid", that is, not afraid of coming. Walking slowly and whistling, it is written twice; the word "why not" reveals a bit of playfulness, adding to the challenge. The first two sentences are the hinge of the whole article, from which the following sentiments are derived.

Walking in the rain, according to normal life, riding a horse is of course better than bamboo sticks and mango shoes, but Su Shi said: "Bamboo sticks and mango shoes are easier than horses, who is afraid?" This is of course not realistic, but a continuation of Write about your state of mind at that time. When you have a calm and leisurely mind, even walking in the mud with bamboo sticks and mango shoes is better than galloping away on horseback with whip raised. There is also a contrast between two lives, one is the civilian life of bamboo sticks and mango shoes, and the other is the aristocratic life of fat horses and light fur coats. After going through political ups and downs, Su Shi became more and more identified with this real, ordinary civilian life. "Bamboo stick" and "mang shoes" are important images used by Su Shi to express civilian life, and are often used in his poems, such as "First Arrival in Lushan": "Moss shoes and green bamboo sticks, hanging a hundred coins to travel." "Dongpo" ": "Don't be dissatisfied with the rough Potou Road, since you love the sonorous sound of the stick." "Living in Dinghuiyuan": "Don't ask about other people's houses or monks' houses, knock on the door with a stick and look at the bamboos." Although Su Shi was a scholar and An official, but a civilian artist, he often goes deep into the folk and leads a civilian-like life. "Bamboo stick and mango shoes" are Su Dongpo's typical civilian image and a true portrayal of his civilian personality. ?

Walking in wind and rain with bamboo sticks and mango shoes is a hard life, but Su Shi walked so gracefully and leisurely.

?

Creative background

This narrative and lyrical poem was written in the spring of the fifth year of Yuanfeng, Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty (AD 1082). At that time, Su Shi was demoted due to the "Wutai Poetry Case" The third spring of serving as the deputy envoy of the Huangzhou regiment. The poet and his friends were out in the spring and suddenly encountered wind and rain, but the poet didn't care, took it calmly, chanted calmly, and walked slowly.

Author

Su Shi, (January 8, 1037 - August 24, 1101), courtesy name Zizhan and Hezhong, also known as Tieguan Taoist and Dongpo layman. Su Dongpo and Su Xian, Han nationality, were from Meishan, Meizhou (Meishan City, Sichuan Province). Their ancestral home was Luancheng, Hebei Province. They were famous writers, calligraphers and painters in the Northern Song Dynasty, and celebrities in historical water control. Su Shi was a literary leader in the mid-Northern Song Dynasty and made great achievements in poetry, lyrics, prose, calligraphy, and painting. His writing is bold and unbridled; his poems are broad in subject matter, fresh and vigorous, good at using exaggerated metaphors, and have a unique style. Together with Huang Tingjian, he is called "Su Huang"; His prose writings are grand and bold. Together with Ouyang Xiu, he is called "Ou Su" and is one of the "Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties". Su Shi was good at calligraphy and one of the "Four Masters of the Song Dynasty"; he was good at literati painting, especially ink bamboo, strange rocks, dead wood, etc. Together with Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan and Ouyang Xiu, they are known as the "Four Great Masters of Eternal Writing". His works include "Dongpo Seven Collections", "Dongpo Yi Zhuan", "Dongpo Yuefu", "Xiaoxiang Bamboo and Stone Picture Scroll", "Old Trees and Strange Stones Picture Scroll", etc.