By praising Xiang Yu's tragic actions, the poet satirized the shameless behavior of those in power in the Southern Song Dynasty who did not want to make progress and lived in an ignoble way. It expresses the deep patriotism of a good man who has made contributions to the country and served the imperial court.
Original words:
"Summer Quatrains" Song Dynasty: Li Qingzhao
He was born as a hero, and died as a ghost.
I still miss Xiang Yu and refuse to cross Jiangdong.
Interpretation:
You should be a hero among men when you are alive, and you should be a hero among ghosts after death.
To this day, people still miss Xiang Yu because he refused to live an ignoble existence and returned to Jiangdong.
Extended information:
“I still miss Xiang Yu and refuse to cross the Yangtze River.” The female poet recalled the Chu tyrant named Xiang Yu, followed Xiang Yu’s spirit and integrity, and hated those in power in the Song Dynasty. The current affairs of the country are peaceful and peaceful.
It is said that the sky will be brighter if you take a step back. Just a river away, but it's the boundary between life and death. Just one thought, but it's the difference between life and death. Xiang Yu, in order to live up to his reputation as a hero, live up to his seven-foot-long body, and live up to the trust of his elders in Jiangdong, died in retribution. "Refuse"! Not "can't", not "don't want to", not "unwilling", not "won't go". The charm of a "unwilling" pen is better than the miraculous craftsmanship, and higher than the creation of heaven and earth.
A kind of heroic heroism that "can be killed but not humiliated", "will not be afraid of death but will not be humiliated", stains the surface of the paper and penetrates the back of the paper, making people marvel and wonder without any words!
Baidu Encyclopedia - Summer Quatrains (Li Qingzhao’s Five-Character Quatrains)