The author of "Yong Willow" is He Zhizhang, a litterateur of the Tang Dynasty. This is a poem that expresses the poet's infinite love for spring by praising the willow tree. Next, I will bring you an appreciation of He Zhizhang's ancient poem "Ode to the Willows". I hope it will be helpful to you.
The full text of the ancient poem is as follows:
The jasper is as high as a tree, with thousands of green silk ribbons hanging down.
I don’t know who cuts out the thin leaves. The spring breeze in February is like scissors.
Foreword
"Ode to the Willows" is a seven-character quatrain poem written by He Zhizhang, a poet in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. This poem is a poem about things. The first two lines of the poem use two new and beautiful metaphors to describe the vitality and greenness of spring willows; the last two lines of the poem even more uniquely compare the spring breeze to "scissors", treating the image of the "spring breeze" as invisible and elusive. It is not only novel in conception, but also full of charm.
Notes
Jasper: jade green. Here it is used as a metaphor for the green willow leaves in spring.
Makeup: decoration, dressing up.
A tree: full of trees. One: full, complete. In classical Chinese poetry and articles, quantifiers do not necessarily indicate exact quantities when used. The word "wan" in the next line of the poem means many things.
绦(tāo): a rope made of silk. This refers to wicker like a ribbon.
Cut: Cut.
Similar: Like, as if.
Translation
The tall willow trees are covered with new green leaves, and the gentle willow branches hang down, like thousands of gently fluttering green ribbons. Whose skillful hands cut these thin young leaves? It turned out to be the warm spring breeze in February, it was like a pair of dexterous scissors!
Appreciation
The first line of the poem is about a tree. The willow tree is like a graceful beauty who has been dressed up. Willow, simply using jasper to compare it has two meanings: first, the name jasper is related to the color of willow, and "bi" and "green" in the next line of the poem are mutually reinforcing and complementary. Second, the word "jasper" will always leave a youthful impression in people's minds. The word "jasper" is used in allusions without leaving any trace. There is "Jasper Song" in Yuefu in the Southern Dynasties, in which "jasper breaks the melon" has become a famous poem. There is also the phrase "little jade girl" in Xiao Yi's "Lotus Picking Ode" from the Southern Dynasties, which is also very famous. Later, the idiom "little jade girl" was formed. "Jasper makes up a tree as tall as a tree" naturally connects the willow tree in front of you with the simple and beautiful poor girl in ancient times, and reminds you that she is dressed in green, charming and full of youthful vitality.
Therefore, the second line of the poem associates the hanging willow leaves with the graceful and falling green silk skirt on her body. China is a big silk-producing country, and silk is the queen of natural fibers. It has always been famous for its dignity, luxury and elegance. So, you can imagine the charm of this willow tree.
The third line of the poem continues the association from "green silk ribbon". Who cut these thin willow leaves like silk ribbons? First, I use a poem to praise the eyebrow-shaped willow leaves that are so ingenious and expressive of love. The last answer is that the spring breeze girl in February used her dexterous and delicate hands to cut out these tender green leaves and put new clothes on the earth. Give people a message of spring. These two poems combine metaphors and questions, and use personification to depict the beauty of spring and the craftsmanship of nature. They are novel and unique, vividly showing the spring breeze nurturing all things, and setting off infinite beauty.
In general, the structure of this poem is unique. It first writes about the overall impression of the willow tree, then writes about the wicker, and finally writes about the willow leaves, from the total to the points, in an orderly manner. The use of language is both clear and gorgeous.