If you want to compare the West Lake to the West,
it is always better to put on light makeup and heavy makeup.
"Drinking on the Lake after the Clear Rain"
Author: Su Shi
The clear sky is good only when the water is shining,
The mountains are empty The rain is also strange.
If you want to compare the West Lake to the West,
it is always better to put on light makeup and heavy makeup.
Notes:
1. Liaoyan: the appearance of flashing waves.
2. Kongmeng: the appearance of confused clouds and fog.
3. Strange: wonderful.
4. Xizi: Xishi, a famous beauty from the Yue Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period.
Appreciation:
This is a poem praising the beauty of the West Lake. It was written when the poet was the governor of Hangzhou. There are two original songs, this is the second one.
The first sentence "It's better when the water is shining and clear" describes the water of West Lake on a sunny day: Under the bright sunshine, the water of West Lake is rippling and sparkling, which is very beautiful. The second sentence, "The mountains are empty and covered with rain, is also strange" describes the scenery of the mountains on a rainy day: Under the curtain of rain, the mountains around the West Lake are confused and vague, and it is very strange. It can be known from the title that the poet was having a banquet in the West Lake on this day. The sun was bright at first, but then it started to rain. In the eyes of poets who are good at appreciating natural beauty, the West Lake's sunny and rainy conditions are beautiful and wonderful. "The sunny days are good" and "the rain is also strange" are the poet's praise for the beautiful scenery of West Lake.
In the two sentences "If you want to compare the West Lake to the West, it is better to wear light makeup and heavy makeup." The poet used a wonderful and appropriate metaphor to describe the charm of the West Lake. The reason why the poet compares Xi Shi to the West Lake is not only because they are in the same land, have the same word "西", and have the same graceful and feminine beauty. More importantly, they both have natural beauty and do not need to use external objects. , no need to rely on artificial modification, you can show your beautiful style at any time. No matter whether Xishi is heavily painted with pink and white or light on the eyebrows, it is always graceful; no matter whether it is sunny or rainy or the flowers are blooming in the morning and evening, the West Lake is incomparably beautiful and fascinating. This metaphor was recognized by later generations. From then on, "Xizi Lake" became another name for West Lake.
This poem is very general. It is not a description of a single scene or a momentary scene of the West Lake, but a comprehensive evaluation of the beauty of the West Lake. The spread of this poem adds luster to the scenery of West Lake.