"I am covered in poetry and books" is an old saying, which means that a person who has read a lot of books is naturally outstanding in temperament, just like wearing gorgeous clothes. There are three theories about its origin: one is a poem from Su Dongpo, the other is a poem from Tao Yuanming, and the other is a famous sentence from Li Shizhen. At present, it seems that a more credible statement comes from Su Shi's Farewell to Dong Chuan.
As a prime minister and poem, Farewell to Dong Chuan is not well-known, and the whole poem only encourages Dong Chuan to be an official. However, the second sentence of this poem inadvertently reveals a secret: reading can help people maintain their temperament and improve their mental outlook. Therefore, it is widely circulated and becomes a famous sentence praising the temperament of literati.
Appreciation of Farewell to Dongchuan
In the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Shi wrapped his life in a big cloth, covered with poems and books. Tired of cooking leaves with old Confucianism, it is better to step on Sophora japonica with children. If it's empty, you can't find a spring horse or see a car. Proud of the secular, Sun Wong wet words such as crow.
Theme of the poem: I have been wearing coarse clothes for many years, but I have read a lot of poetry books, and my temperament is still Tsinghua. Tired of chewing leaves with the old Confucian, I also want to go to Beijing to become famous. Just because you are poor, even if you win the bid, you can't buy a "spring horse" like Meng Jiao.
Not only can't "spring breeze be proud of horseshoe disease", but it is also dazzled by the "husband car" of the rich in Beijing. Of course it's worth boasting about. The name of the emperor is written on the list, but the ink is like a crow. This poem was written by Su Shi to his friend Dong Chuan, who was from Luoyang and had contacts with Su Shi in Fengxiang, and died in Xining, Song Shenzong the following year.
Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Su Shi