"The jasper is as high as a tree, and thousands of green silk ribbons hang down" means: the tall willow trees are covered with green branches, and thousands of willow branches hang down like gently fluttering green ribbons. . The "jasper" in the sentence refers to the green color, which is a metaphor for the tender green willow leaves in spring. Makeup refers to decoration and dressing up.
Ode to the Willow
He Zhizhang [Tang Dynasty]
Jasper is made up to a tree height, with thousands of green silk ribbons hanging down.
I don’t know who cut out the thin leaves. The spring breeze in February is like scissors.
Translation
The tall willow trees are covered with tender green branches, and thousands of willow branches hang down like gently fluttering green ribbons.
I wonder who cut these thin willow leaves? It was the spring breeze in February, it was like a pair of magical scissors.
Comments
Jasper: jade green. Here it is used as a metaphor for the green willow leaves in spring.
Makeup: decoration, dressing up.
One tree: full of trees. One: Full, complete. In classical Chinese poetry and articles, quantifiers do not necessarily indicate exact quantities when used. The "wan" in the next sentence means a lot.
绦(tāo): a rope made of silk. This refers to wicker like a ribbon.
Cut: Cut.
Similar: Like, as if.
Appreciation
"Ode to the Willows" uses willow trees to sing about the spring breeze, comparing the spring breeze to scissors, saying that she is the creator of beauty, and praising her for cutting out spring. . The poem is filled with people's joy at early spring. The novelty and appropriateness of comparisons and metaphors are the success of this poem. "Notes on Tang Poems" says: "The things are wonderful and the language is gentle.
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