Since ancient times, peony has been loved by countless literati, and many famous articles related to it have been left. Let’s learn more about it with the editor of Fun History.
Zhou Dunyi of the Song Dynasty wrote in "The Theory of Love of Lotus": "Since Li and Tang Dynasties, the world has loved peonies very much." But Wu Zetian doesn't like peonies. Why? There is a story here. It is said that one winter, Wu Zetian, who had become emperor, was going to visit Shanglin Garden, a royal flower viewing resort. As we all know, flowers bloom in spring and autumn, and there are very few flowers in winter. But before Wu Zetian visited Shanglin Garden, she composed a poem titled "The Imperial Decree on the Latest Day of Xingying Shangyuan": "I will visit Shangyuan in the Ming Dynasty, and it is urgent to announce the spring. The flowers will bloom all night long, don't wait for the morning breeze to blow." I hope that those who are playing during the tour Sometimes you can see a hundred flowers blooming. In fact, Wu Zetian's hope was nothing more than an expression of her ambition to be supreme over anyone else.
However, many legends were spread in later generations. It is said that the Baihua Fairy in Shanglin Garden accepted the imperial edict and had to follow the trend. On the second day, the flowers in the garden bloomed, which also expressed Submission to royal majesty. All the flowers bloomed, but the peonies were still withered branches and leaves. Wu Zetian was so angry that he banished the peonies to the wilderness. Little did he know that the next spring, these peonies would bloom even more gorgeous flowers. It is more beautiful than any other flowers and has become the most precious flower in Luoyang.
Wu Zetian didn’t like peonies, but she couldn’t stop others from liking them, and Luoyang peonies were often recited by poets of the Tang Dynasty, such as Liu Yuxi’s “Appreciating Peonies”:
“The peony demon in front of the court There is no style, the lotus flowers on the pond are pure and sentimental. Only the peonies are the true national beauty, and they move the capital when they bloom."
Liu Yuxi said that the peonies in front of the court are enchanting and gorgeous but lack of character, while the lotus flowers in the pond are elegant and clean. Lacks sentiment. Only peonies are the true beauty of the sky and the country. When they bloom, they attract countless people to admire them and startle the entire capital.
Li Bai has "Qing Ping Tiao·Part 1":
"The clouds think of clothes, flowers think of faces, the spring breeze blows on the threshold and the dew is rich. If we hadn't seen each other on the top of the jade mountain, we would have met under the moon on Yaotai "
Li Bai said that when you see clouds, you think of her gorgeous clothes; when you see flowers, you think of her gorgeous appearance; the spring breeze blows on the railings, and the dewdrops moisten the flowers and make them more colorful. Such a natural beauty, either the fairies seen on the top of the jade mountains, or the goddesses illuminated by the moonlight in front of the Yaotai Hall.
Li Zhengfeng's "Peony Poems":
"The beauty of the country is intoxicating with wine, the fragrance of the sky is dyeing clothes at night; the beauty of the red landscape is drunk in spring, and the bright moon asks about the date of return."
After hearing this poem, Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty appreciated it very much. From then on, peony has gained the reputation of national beauty and fragrance, and has been well-known in history for thousands of years.
Since then, nearly a thousand species of peonies have bloomed. This peony movement initiated by high-level nobles has naturally had a profound impact on the people. There is even a sentence that compares peonies to beauties, such as "Death under peonies is like being a ghost" ("Drunken Xi Shi" of the Yuan Dynasty Pearl Curtain Show).
So, what is the reason why "people have loved peonies very much since the Li and Tang Dynasties"?
First of all, it must be because of the large, plump and graceful flowers of peonies. The characteristics of the peony flower symbolized wealth, good luck, prosperity and happiness at that time. Therefore, people in the Tang Dynasty particularly admired peonies and regarded them as the national flower. Especially in the palace, these concubines wear peonies on their heads, there are peonies in the house, and peonies are planted in the courtyard, which are all symbols of this beauty.
Secondly, peony is the king of flowers, which appropriately represents the spirit of the times of the Tang Dynasty and the supreme status of the Tang Dynasty in worship from all directions at that time. Shu Yuanyu's "Peony Ode" of the Tang Dynasty has these lines: "In my collection of flowers, this flower ranks first, monopolizing the spring day... Roses die of shame, peonies are lost, young peaches are hidden, and plums are ashamed to come out!" This represents At that time, peonies were supreme in people's hearts, and their status was hard to rival.
Once again, it is because of the spiritual beauty of peony. Peonies are full of grandeur everywhere. Because scholars in the Tang Dynasty generally pursued a heroic spirit, the spiritual character of peonies perfectly fit and integrated with the spiritual world of literati. Zhang Chao said in "Youmengying": "Peony makes people proud." After this spirit was influenced, it was generally recognized by people in the Tang Dynasty and passed on to future generations.
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