"Yong Snow" is an article in "Shishuoxinyu", written by Liu Yiqing, a writer of the Southern Dynasties.
Translation
Xie An held a family gathering on a cold snowy day to explain the meaning of the article to his children and nephews. Soon, it snowed heavily, and the Taifu said happily: "What does this flying white snow look like?" His brother's eldest son Xie Lang said: "Sprinkling salt in the air is almost comparable." Another brother's daughter said: "It's better to compare it to catkins flying in the wind." Taifu laughed. She is Xie Daoyun, the daughter of Xie Wuyi, and the wife of General Wang Ningzhi of the left.
Appreciation
This is an eternal story, which reflects the outstanding poetic talent, meticulous observation of things and flexible imagination of the female talent Xie Daoyun.
According to the "Book of Jin·The Biography of Wang Ning's Wife Xie" and "Shishuo Xinyu·Yu", Xie An tasted Neiji during the Hanxue day and lectured on the meaning of essays with his children. Suddenly, the snow suddenly fell, and An Xinran sang. Yun, brother Zilang and brother Daoyungengge (the poem is as above), are happy and happy.
Xie An's joy lies in the fact that his dress and hairpins are not inferior to his men's hair, and his niece's poetic talent is even better than that of his nephew. According to the rare literary name of Xie Lang, the "Shishuo Xinyu·Yu" chapter quoted "Xu Jin Yangqiu" and called him "a brilliant writer", and the "Literature" chapter cited "Zhongxing Shu" saying that he was "extremely knowledgeable and talented" ". Therefore, the uncle came up with the rhyme and the title, and the nephew immediately sang the harmony, which shows his talent and quick thinking. To be fair, "spreading salt on the ground" can be regarded as an analogy. Snow, with its pink and white crystals, is floating down. Xie Lang took the nearby example and used salt on the ground to draw it. Although it is not clever, it can't be described.
However, the smart sister is not superstitious about her brother's talent. She felt that it was good to use salt to simulate snow, but it did not describe the fundamental characteristics of snowflakes with six petals, fluttering in the wind, and being boundless. So, she made a bold correction to her brother's original sentence: "It's not like catkins blowing in the wind."
Shen Deqian, a native of the Qing Dynasty, said: "It's hard to explain things, and it's hard to explain why. Connect the analogy with the form." (Volume 2 of "Shuo Shi Yu") Metaphor is the basic rhetorical technique of poetry. The key is to be expressive, novel and wonderful. This is where Xie Daoyun's sentence is superior to his brother's.
However, the reason why truly beautiful and famous sentences have been passed down through the ages and spread among people is more importantly because they can convey the author's inner thoughts and feelings through images. The beauty of this poem by Xie Daoyun is not only that it provides an example of work, but also that it reveals the talented woman's love for life and nature. She compares the cold winter scene with blowing snow from the north wind to the warm spring scenery blown by the east wind, which reflects the author's cheerful and optimistic mind and her sincere yearning for the beautiful spring.
According to the original biography of "Book of Jin", Xie Daoyun's couplet was not only praised by her uncle, but also unanimously praised by the guests present. This couplet became a popular story, and Xie Daoyun also won the reputation of "Yong Xucai". Later, Liang Liu Xiaochuo of the Southern Dynasty wrote a "Poetry on Snow", which included: "The osmanthus flowers are extremely bright, and the catkins are also falling. They are as beautiful as the song of Xianchi, flying thousands of miles away." Maybe it was inspired by Xie Daoyun.
What needs to be explained is Xie Daoyun’s excellent couplets. It is not a temporary achievement or a moment of inspiration, but it is based on her profound literary accomplishment. The "Shishuo Xinyu·Yu" chapter quotes "Women's Collection" as saying that she "has literary talent, and her poems, rhymes, and poems have been passed down to the world." It is a pity that most of them have not been preserved to this day.
Original text
Xie Taifu Hanxue gathered in the evening and lectured on the meaning of the book with his children. Suddenly it snowed suddenly, and the father said happily: "What does the white snow look like?" Brother Hu'er said: "Sprinkle salt to make the difference in the air." The brother and daughter said: "It's not like catkins blowing up in the wind." The father laughed happily. That is to say, the eldest brother Gong has no daughter, and she is the wife of General Wang Ning of the left.
Notes
Taifu Xie: Xie An (.320-385), named Anshi, was born in Yangxia, Chenjun County (now Taikang, Henan) in the Jin Dynasty. He served as the prefect of Wuxing, Shizhong, Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel, and the Central Protector of the Army. After his death, he was given the title of Taifu posthumously.
Inset: The family gathers together in the house.
Children: nephews and nephews.
Explain the meaning of the article: explain the meaning of the article.
Eer: Soon, not a while.
Step: urgent, urgent.
Xinran: happy. Ran: It looks like...
What is it like? He, what; like, like.
Hu'er: That is Xie Lang. Xie Lang, also known as Zhang Leng, is the eldest son of brother Xie An. Served as the governor of Dongyang.
The difference is comparable: almost comparable. Difference, roughly, almost; approximate, comparison.
Wei Ruo: Not as good as.
Cause: take advantage of, take advantage of.
That is: yes.
无奕女: refers to Xie Daoyun (yùn), a famous talented woman in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, known for her intelligence and talent. Wu Yi refers to Xie Yi, the word is Wu Yi.
Wang Ningzhi: courtesy name Shuping, the second son of the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi. He served as the governor of Jiangzhou, general Zuo, and internal historian of Kuaiji.
Creative background
"Yong Snow" is a classical Chinese prose collection by Liu Yiqing, a writer of the Southern Dynasties, in "Shishuoxinyu". It originated from an impromptu conversation between Xie An and his nephews in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Classical Chinese Knowledge
1. Ancient and modern meanings
1. Discussing the meaning of literature with children
Old meaning: the younger generation of children and nephews ;
Modern meaning: one’s own son and daughter?
2. Discuss the meaning of the article with children
Old meaning: the meaning of the article;
Modern meaning: the meaning of the article
3. Not like catkins blowing in the wind
Old meaning: take advantage of, take advantage of; modern meaning: because
2 , the word has multiple meanings
日
Xie Taifu Hanxue Ri Neiji (noun, day)
日日中 (noun, sun)
3. Special sentence patterns
1. The wife of General Wang Ning of the left. (Judgment sentence)
2. Mr. Xie gathered (on) a cold and snowy day. (Sentences omitted)
3. What does the white snow look like? (In an inverted sentence, in the interrogative sentence, the pronoun acts as the object, and the object is in front. It is an inverted version of "What does the white snow look like?"
)