"The so-called beauty is on the other side of the water" comes from the poem "Qin Feng Jian Jia" written anonymously in the pre-Qin period as follows:
Original text:
Jian Jia Cang Cang, White dew is frost. The so-called beauty is on the water side. If you follow it back, the road will be long and blocked. Traveling back from it, Wan is in the middle of the water.
The leaves are luxuriant, and the white dew is still shining. The so-called beauty is on the water. If you follow it back, the road will be blocked and you will be able to advance. If you go back and swim from it, you will feel like you are swimming in the water.
The jianjia is collected, and the white dew has not stopped. The so-called beauty is in the river of water. Follow it back, but the road is blocked and to the right. If you go back and swim from it, you will be swimming in the water.
Translation:
The vast reeds are green, and the morning dew turns to frost. The sweetheart I miss. Just standing on the other side of the river. I went upstream to pursue her (him). The road to pursue her (him) was difficult and long. I looked for him/her down the river, and he seemed to be in the middle of the river.
A vast expanse of reeds is desolate, and the early morning dew has not yet dried. The sweetheart I miss. She (he) is on the other side of the river. I went upstream to pursue him/her, but the way was bumpy and difficult. I looked for him/her down the river, He or she seemed to be on a islet in the water.
The reeds along the river are lush and continuous, and the dewdrops in the early morning have not yet evaporated. The sweetheart I miss. She (he) is on the river bank. I went upstream to pursue him/her, but the road was tortuous and difficult. Downstream I searched for him or her, He or she seemed to be on the beach in the water.
Introduction to "Qin Feng·Jianjia"
"Qin Feng·Jianjia" is a poem in the "Book of Songs", the first poetry collection in ancient China. This poem was once thought to be a way to ridicule Qin Xianggong for not being able to use Zhou rites to consolidate his country, or to regret that he could not attract wise men who lived in seclusion. Modern scholars generally believe that this is a love song, describing the melancholy and depression of pursuing the one you love but not being able to achieve it, creating a wonderful state of beauty in autumn water.
The whole poem has three chapters, which are sung over and over again. The last two chapters are only slightly modified from the text of the first chapter, forming a harmonious rhythm within each chapter, and the effect of uneven rhythm between chapters also creates The reciprocal advancement of semantics. There are 10 "Qin Feng" poems in the "Book of Songs", among which "Qin Feng Jian Jia" is a work produced in Li County.
The above content refers to Baidu Encyclopedia-Qin Feng·Jianjia