The lotus is used to describe a person with high moral standards. And it was Wen Ru who built a special temple and built the "Lianxi Academy" behind the temple. There was also a "Love Lotus Pond" in the academy. Due to several wars, the original academy, temple and pond no longer exist.
This article describes the author's noble sentiments of being self-sufficient and unwilling to succumb to the secular world, and shows the author's ability to "come out of the mud without being stained", thus forming a clear contrast with the vulgar people and vulgar people satirized in the article. contrast.
Original text:
The Love of Lotus
Author Zhou Dunyi? Song Dynasty
The flowers of land and water are very cute. Tao Yuanming of Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Since Li Tang, the world is very love peony. I only love the lotus that emerges from the mud but is not stained; it is clear in the ripples without being demonic; it is straight in the middle and straight in the outside; it does not creep or branch; its fragrance becomes clearer from a distance; its pavilion is clean and planted; it can be viewed from a distance but not played with.
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 chrysanthemum is rarely heard of after Tao. Who can share the love of the lotus? The love of peony is suitable for everyone!
Translation:
There are many herbaceous and woody flowers on water and land that are worthy of love. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Since Li's Tang Dynasty, most people have loved peonies. What I like is that the lotus grows out of the accumulated mud but is not polluted, and does not look glamorous after being washed by clear water. (Its stem) is straight in the middle and has no vines or branches.
The aroma spreads more delicately, standing straight and clean in the water. (People) can admire (lotus) from a distance, but cannot play with it easily. I think the chrysanthemum is the hermit among flowers; the peony is the rich and noble among flowers; and the lotus is the gentleman among flowers.
Alas! Love of chrysanthemums is rarely heard of after Tao Yuanming. Who else has the same love for lotus as me? Of course there are many people who love peonies!
Extended information:
In the fourth year of Song Xining (AD 1071), Zhou Dunyi came to Xingzi (now revoked, originally County under the jurisdiction of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province) was appointed as the magistrate of Nankang. After Zhou Dunyi came to Xingzi, he dug a pond on the east side of the military office and planted lotus flowers in it.
When Zhou Dunyi came to Xingzi, he was already in his twilight years (55 years old) and ill. Therefore, after dinner, he would either be alone or invite friends from his staff to enjoy flowers and drink tea by the pool, and write I downloaded the prose "Ai Lian Shuo".
The author expresses his longing for beautiful ideals, his admiration for noble sentiments, and his hatred for the mediocre world through his love and praise for the lotus.
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