The author of "Yong Mei" is Lu You
"Bu Suanzi·Yong Mei" is a poem written by Lu You, a poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. This is a poem about plum blossoms. The first part focuses on the difficult situation of plum blossoms, and the second part describes plum blossoms’ soul and outlook on life and death. The poet uses objects to describe people and expresses his ambitions. He writes about the proud and unyielding plum blossoms with a fresh sentiment, which is a metaphor for his steadfastness and unyielding despite the ups and downs in his life. It is the swan song in the plum poem.
The original text of the work Bu Suanzi · Yong Mei
Beside the broken bridge outside the post station, it is lonely and ownerless. It is already dusk and I am sad alone, and it is even more windy and rainy.
I have no intention of fighting for spring, but I will let everyone be jealous. It fell into mud and was crushed into dust, but only the fragrance remained the same.
Creative background
Lu You loved plum blossoms all his life and used them as a spiritual carrier to sing his praises. Plum blossoms became a symbol of perseverance and unyielding image in his writings. It is not difficult to understand in connection with Lu You's life. The plum blossoms in the poem are a reflection of the author himself. Lu You's life was full of ups and downs. He was born in the seventh year of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty (1125), when the Northern Song Dynasty was on the verge of collapse and the Jin Dynasty was looking at it with delay.
Not long after, his family began a turbulent escape career. "As a child, he avoided the Hu soldiers to death" was a portrayal of that time, which also planted the seeds of patriotism deep in his young heart. In the 23rd year of Shaoxing (1153), Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, Lu You went to Lin'an to take the Jinshi examination and was ranked first because of his outstanding talent. However, Qin Hui was angered because Qin Hui's grandson was ranked behind Lu You. In the next year's examination of the Ministry of Rites, he actually Deposed.
The reason why Qin Hui deposed Lu You was on the one hand to seek personal revenge, and on the other hand, because of his "restoration of happy discussions", he aroused the jealousy of the leader of the capitulation faction. It was not until Qin Hui's death that Lu Youfang began to enter his official career. After that, Lu You's official career was not smooth sailing, but had ups and downs. He once went to the anti-golden front line, wore a military uniform and participated in the fiery fighting life, thus experiencing the "poetic samadhi". From then on, the magnificent and fierce battle scenes and the strong desire to regain the lost territory became the most beautiful main theme in his poems.
However, the small court of the Southern Song Dynasty was content with the remaining water and mountains in front of it, and did not really want to recover. Even if you have to make some gestures sometimes, they are deceptive and absent-minded. Therefore, Lu You was dismissed from office twice, and the main reason was his insistence on using troops. Although Lu You's patriotic enthusiasm was severely hit, his patriotic ambitions remain unswerving. This is fully reflected in his poetry.
It is not difficult to understand that his "Bu Suanzi: Ode to the Plum Blossoms" is the representative of the plum blossoms. The plum blossoms that "fall into mud and grind into dust, only the fragrance remains the same" are the poet's lifelong response to the evil forces. It is an image portrayal of the unremitting spirit of struggle and the character of unswerving ideals.