Four Seasons of Pastoral Excitement
(Song Dynasty) Fan Chengda
On an auspicious day, rice bags were planted at the beginning of the year, and thunder and rain continued all night long in Nanshan.
This year we don’t owe water to the rice fields. Take a look at the small bridge after the new rise.
Four Seasons Pastoral Excitement·Part 2
(Song Dynasty) Fan Chengda
The plums are golden and the apricots are fat, and the wheat flowers, snow and white cauliflower are sparse.
No one passes by the fence as the day progresses, only dragonflies and butterflies fly.
This poem describes the pastoral scenery of Jiangnan in early summer. The poem uses yellow plums, fat apricots, white wheat flowers, and sparse cauliflowers to describe the characteristics of the southern rural scenery in summer, including flowers and fruits, color and form.
The third sentence of the poem describes the working situation of farmers from the side: Farming is busy in early summer, and farmers go out early and return late, so they rarely see pedestrians during the day.
The last sentence uses "only dragonflies and butterflies fly" to set off the silence in the village. There is movement in the silence, which makes it seem even quieter.
Extended information:
Introduction to the author
Fan Chengda (1126-1193), courtesy name Zhineng, also known as Shihu Jushi, Wujun (Suzhou City) people. In the 24th year of Shaoxing (1164), he became a Jinshi. When Xiaozong went to the Kingdom of Jin as an envoy, he showed his awe-inspiring integrity and was not afraid of violence. Officials came to Sichuan to establish envoys and participate in political affairs.
He is one of the famous poets of the Southern Song Dynasty and one of the "Four Great Masters of Zhongxing". He first served as a local official, and later served as a political advisor. He once went on a mission to the Kingdom of Jin and returned home. In his later years, he lived in seclusion in Shihu.
He is a patriotic poet and has written a large number of pastoral poems. His poetic language is fresh and natural, and his style is gentle and euphemistic. Together with You Miao, Lu You and Yang Wanli, he is known as one of the "four great poets of the Southern Song Dynasty".
The life aspect of his words is not as broad as that of poetry; the writing is exquisite, the syllables are harmonious, and he is in the same vein as the graceful school. He is the author of "Shihu Lay Poems Collection", "Shihu Ci", "Wuhu Records", etc.