Why did Qu Yuan use vanilla beauty as a metaphor in Li Sao?

The images of beauty and vanilla are generally interpreted as metaphors, or metaphors of kings, or metaphors of self. The former is like "only the grass and trees are scattered, and the beauty is afraid of death", while the latter is like "many women are jealous of Yu Mei, so they say that Yu Hao is lewd". To a great extent, Qu Yuan expresses his feelings by writing stories about his wife's abandonment, so the whole poem is sentimental and touching.

Li Sao is full of many kinds of herbs, and the image of herbs, as an independent symbol, refers to the nobility of morality and personality on the one hand; On the other hand, it is opposite to evil grass and symbolizes both sides of political struggle. In a word, the image of vanilla beauty in Li Sao constitutes a complex and ingenious symbolic metaphor system, which makes the poem rich and vivid.

Extended data:

The description of the poet's life-long struggle for lofty ideals in Li Sao strongly expresses his anguish and ambivalence when he was murdered, and shows his dedication to his country, his deep patriotism and sympathy for the people, and his indomitable struggle spirit of bravely pursuing truth and light and upholding justice and ideals.

At the same time, it also profoundly exposed the decadent and dark nature of the Chu aristocratic group headed by Chu Jun, and criticized their crimes of reversing right and wrong, running a private party, harming talents and doing evil for the country.