Autumn Eve
(Tang Dynasty) Du Mu
The cold autumn light of silver candles paints the screen, and the small light fan flutters at the flowing fireflies.
The night sky is as cool as water, and I sit and watch Altair and Vega.
[Today's translation]
On the autumn night, the white candlelight reflected the deserted painting screen; I held a small silk fan in my hand and lightly beat the flowing fireflies. The night on the sky street is as cool as well water; looking up at the stars from the couch, Altair is facing Vega.
[Commentary]
This is a story about the loneliness and resentment of a frustrated palace maid. The first sentence describes the autumn scene, using the word "cold" to hint at the cold autumn atmosphere, and also brings out the protagonist's inner loneliness. The second sentence is about using fireflies to pass the time and relieve sadness. Three sentences are written about being unable to sleep late at night, waiting for luck to come. The sky and streets are like water, which is a metaphor for your love as ice. The last sentence expresses the sadness in my heart by admiring the Morning Glory and the Weaver Girl. A retired scholar from Hengtang commented: "The layers of scenery are like a colored figure painting. Just the word 'lying and looking' evokes emotions and makes the whole body lively."
Poetry Appreciation
< p> Poetry Appreciation 1: This poem describes the lonely life and desolate state of mind of a frustrated palace maid. "Cold" and "coolness" are not only the seasonal feeling of late autumn, but also the character's life experience. She lives in an inhuman environment, without popularity, friends and relatives, and of course without the warmth of love and the joy of life. But he seemed to be full of interest. In the desolate autumn night, he would sometimes beat the fireflies alone, and sometimes gaze dreamily at the Morning Glory and Vega in the night sky. Three images in the poem are worth noting. The small fan is not used in autumn, so it is often used by ancient poets to symbolize neglected and abandoned women. Flowing fireflies, the ancients believed that rotting grass turns into fireflies, and fireflies always grow in desolate places. There were actually Liuying where the palace maid lived, which showed that she had been left out for a long time. Altair and Vega: Symbolizes love and parting. But it was a parting with the hope of reunion. This palace maid has been neglected for a long time. Perhaps she has no hope of receiving favor, but she is still looking forward to it bitterly. Because this expectation is the only meaning of her life. The poet calmly wrote about the infinitely desolate life conditions of the lonely years of the resentful woman in the palace.Poem Appreciation 2: This is about the loneliness and resentment of a frustrated palace maid. The first sentence describes the autumn scene, using the word "cold" to hint at the cold autumn atmosphere, and also brings out the protagonist's inner loneliness. The second sentence is about using fireflies to pass the time and relieve sadness. Three sentences are written about being unable to sleep late at night, waiting for luck to come. The sky and streets are like water, which is a metaphor for your love as ice. The last sentence expresses the sadness in my heart by admiring the Morning Glory and the Weaver Girl. A retired scholar from Hengtang commented: "The layers of scenery are like a colored figure painting. Just the word 'lying and looking' evokes emotions and makes the whole body lively."
This poem was originally written by Wang Jianshi.
[About the author]
Du Mu: (803-852) poet of the Tang Dynasty. The courtesy name was Muzhi, a native of Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi'an, Shaanxi Province). There is "Fan Chuan Collection". (AD 803-853), courtesy name Muzhi, was born in Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi'an, Shaanxi Province), and was the grandson of Prime Minister Du You. In the second year of Yamato, he was awarded Jinshi Scholarship and was awarded the title of School Secretary of Hongwenkan. He served as a staff member in other places for many years, and later served as supervisory censor, editor of the History Museum, Shanbubu, Bibu, Si Xunyuanwailang, Huangzhou, Chizhou, Muzhou governor, etc., and finally became a Zhongshu Sheren. An outstanding poet in the late Tang Dynasty, especially famous for his seven-character quatrains. He was good at poetry, and his "Afang Palace Fu" was passed down to future generations. Paying attention to military affairs, he wrote many military papers and also commented on "Sun Tzu". There are twenty volumes of "Collected Works of Fan Chuan" handed down to the world, compiled by his nephew Pei Yanhan, including four volumes of poems. There are also one volume each of "Fan Chuan Wai Ji" and "Fan Chuan Bie Ji" supplemented by the Song Dynasty. "Complete Poems of the Tang Dynasty" collects eight volumes of Du Mu's poems. Most of the poems of the late Tang Dynasty are soft and subtle, but Mu's poems are sharpened by sharpness. People call it Xiaodu to distinguish it from Shaoling. Qijuelong has the spirit of Yi Yun Yuan, and all the masters in the late Tang Dynasty let him alone.
His nickname is "Xiao Du" to distinguish him from Du Fu. Together with Li Shangyin, he is called "Little Li Du". Mu Zhi is ambitious, good at talking and fighting, and prides himself on his ability to help the world. ICBC cursive script. "Xuanhe Shupu" says: "Mu's writing is vigorous and vigorous, which is similar to his articles." Dong Qichang's "Rongtai Collection" said: "After I saw Yan and Liu, Wen Feiqing and (Du) Muzhi were also famous Ye." It is said that his book "has the charm of the Six Dynasties". Among the handed down ink writings is "Zhang Haohao's Poems". He has many works, including the Collected Works of Fan Chuan, Volume 147 of "Old Book of Tang", and Volume 166 of "New Book of Tang". "Zhang Haohao's Poems", written in cursive and ink, was written by Du Mutai in the eighth year of Taihe (834), when he was 32 years old. The post is a hemp paper, 28.2 cm long and 162 cm wide, with 46 lines and a total of 322 words. It can be seen from the entire poem that his calligraphy has the charm of the people of the Six Dynasties. The original work is now in the Palace Museum. This calligraphy work has continuous momentum and smooth ink. Because it is a poem, it has a simple and unpretentious beauty. At the beginning and end of the volume, there are inscriptions, inscriptions and seals of people from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was collected by Zhihe Branch of Song Dynasty, Jia Sidao of Ming Dynasty, Xiang Zijing of Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xiaosi of Qing Dynasty, Qing Biao of Qing Dynasty, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Xuantong Imperial Households and Zhang Boju. It has been recorded in "Xuanhe Shupu", "Rongtai Collection", "Life Spectacular", "Daguanlu", etc. Du Mu is famous for his poetry, so the title of his book is concealed by the title of his poem. This book is engraved into "Qiubitang Dharma Notes". There are photocopies in Enguangshi and Japan's "Showa Dharma Collection".
Du Mu lived in Fanchuan Villa in South Chang'an in his later years, so he was called "Du Fanchuan" in later generations.
Du Mu's literary creation has many achievements, and his poems, poems, and ancient prose are all worthy of being famous. He advocated that writing should be based on meaning, supplemented by Qi, and defended by words and sentences. He had a relatively correct understanding of the relationship between the content and form of the work.
And it can absorb and melt the strengths of its predecessors to form its own special style. In terms of poetry creation, Du Mu is as famous as Li Shangyin, another outstanding poet in the late Tang Dynasty, and is also known as "Little Li Du". His ancient poetry was influenced by Du Fu and Han Yu, with broad themes and vigorous writing. His modern poetry is distinguished by its clear and beautiful words and ups and downs of emotion. The seven-rhythm "Early Wild Geese" expresses nostalgia for the people in the northern frontier fortress who were invaded and displaced by the Uighurs in a way that expresses their nostalgia. It is graceful and has an aftertaste. "Climbing the Mountain in Nine Days" uses a bold style to describe his broad-minded mind, but also contains deep sadness. The general trend of poetry in the late Tang Dynasty is to draw rich and detailed pictures. Influenced by the trend of the times, Du Mu also paid attention to diction. This unique tendency of emphasizing diction is combined with his personal characteristics of "majestic and heroic", which is graceful and graceful, yet elegant and graceful.