Zheng Sixiao Song Dynasty
Flowers can't bloom, and independent fences are not poor.
It is better to hold incense in the branches and wait for death than to blow it into the north wind.
2. Translation
Chrysanthemums are in full bloom in autumn, never interacting with flowers, and are independent of hedges, which is not bad in taste.
I would rather wither and die on the branches than blow in the cold north wind!
Step 3 enjoy
This object-chanting poem symbolizes the noble spirit of being loyal to the old country and never bowing to the new dynasty. Every sentence in the poem is written with the natural attributes of cold chrysanthemum, and beauty is related to these natural attributes everywhere, suggesting the poet's feelings. "Embracing incense" refers to a person's noble national sentiment, and "North Wind" is a pun, implying the Mongolian ruler from the north. This poem is heroic and enthusiastic, and it is a sensation.
"bloom is not a hundred flowers, and it is not poor." The main meaning of this sentence is that in the bright spring season in bloom, the unique chrysanthemum stands in the fierce wind and frost and does not compete with the flowers. Zheng went on to write that the flowers had withered, and only chrysanthemums stood by the hedge, which was full of interest. The "interest" here not only refers to the natural interest of chrysanthemum in resisting frost and displaying brilliance alone, but also refers to the painter's subjective interest in chrysanthemum image, that is, lofty, loyal, sincere and complacent. Tao Yuanming's interest in "picking chrysanthemums under the hedge" and "making sense" is integrated into the poem. Fan Chengda mentioned the saying that "Chrysanthemum is not as good as a gentleman" in Preface to Chrysanthemum in Fan Village. As the saying goes, at the end of the Chinese New Year, the vegetation weakens, which is the result of unique hair and proud wind and dew. This is the practice of a loner and a carefree person. Fan Chengda's preface is consistent with the theme of Zheng Sixiao's poems, and the model essay can help us understand the profound connotation of Zheng Sixiao's poetic images.
The last two sentences are very poetic. After the chrysanthemum blooms, it gradually fades on the branches, but the petals don't fade and fall to the ground, so the cloud says, "The branches hold incense and die." The north wind is a metaphor for the invasion of the aristocratic ruling group from the north in the Southern Song Dynasty. In the poem, the metaphor is that you would rather die than succumb to Meng Yuan's ruling clique, which shows the lofty integrity of "rather die than surrender" and sincerely interprets the poet's own lofty national integrity. These two poems have their own origins. In the Song Dynasty, Zhu's poem "Chrysanthemum" said that "I would rather stick to the fragrant branches and grow old than dance with the yellow leaves in the autumn wind", which deepened the meaning of the poem and had a strong flavor of the times.
The focus of this poem is to express one's will by supporting things, rather than giving play to the theory of painting, so it has the characteristics of chanting things. The whole poem describes the shape of chrysanthemum, gains the spirit of chrysanthemum, and goes beyond it. While fully expressing the natural attributes of chrysanthemum, it also describes Zheng Sixiao's patriotic feelings, which not only shows the natural beauty and painting beauty of chrysanthemum, but also shows the personality beauty of painters and poets, so that the naturalness and sociality of chrysanthemum images are harmonious and unified. This poem has lofty aesthetic experience and profound philosophical implication, from which readers can gain aesthetic pleasure and life enlightenment.