Original text
Author: Zhang Xu
The flying bridge is faintly separated by the wild smoke, and the fishing boats are on the west bank of the stone alum.
The peach blossoms follow the flowing water all day long. Where is the hole in the clear stream?
Notes
1. Flying bridge: high bridge.
2. Shiji: A pile of rocks exposed in the river.
3. Cave: refers to the entrance of the cave found by the Wuling fishermen in "Peach Blossom Spring".
Translation
I could vaguely see a long bridge, cut off by wild smoke;
On the west bank of Shiyu, I asked about a fishing boat.
Peach blossoms drift endlessly with the flowing water all day long;
Which section of the Qingxi River is the entrance to the Peach Blossom Spring?
Appreciation
< p>This poem expresses a mood of yearning for paradise and pursuing a better life by describing the beautiful scenery of Peach Blossom Creek and the author's inquiries about fishermen.There are many peach groves on both sides of the Peach Blossom Stream. In late spring, the fallen flowers are colorful and the stream is flowing with clouds. It is said that Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Spring" in the Eastern Jin Dynasty was set here. Although the Peach Blossom Creek described by Zhang Xu does not necessarily refer to this place, it implicitly uses its artistic conception. This poem has a graceful conception, profound sentiment, and rich painting meaning.
"The flying bridge is faintly separated by wild smoke", and I started to write about the distant view: deep mountains and wild valleys, surrounded by clouds and smoke; looking through the clouds and smoke, the long bridge across the mountain stream appeared and disappeared. It seems like nothing, as if flying in the void. This realm is so deep, mysterious, and hazy, like entering a fairyland. Here, the static bridge and the floating wild smoke form an interesting contrast: the wild smoke makes the bridge turn static into movement, ethereal and flying in the sky; the bridge turns wild smoke into movement into stillness, just like hanging a light gauze curtain. Looking at the bridge through this curtain makes people feel a hazy beauty. The word "spar" makes the two scenery complement each other and merge into an artistic whole; the word "spar" also implies that the poet is looking from a distance. If he were standing by the bridge, he would not have the feeling of "separation".
The following is a close-up view. Nearby, there are rugged rocks exposed in the water, such as islands and islets (Shiji); on the stream with fallen flowers drifting, there are fishing boats gently rocking, and the scenery is quiet and bright. "Asking about fishing boats on the west bank of Shiji", with the word "ask", the poet has also entered the painting, allowing readers to see both the beauty of the landscape and the mood of the characters from this landscape painting. The poet stood beside the ancient stone rock, looking at the endless peach blossom petals floating on the stream and the fishing boats. In a trance, he seemed to regard the fishermen in front of him as the Wuling fishermen who had entered the Peach Blossom Spring. The word "ask" came out of his mouth.
The three words "asking about the fishing boat" vividly express this fascinating mood. Three or four sentences are used to ask the fisherman: I see pieces of peach petals floating out with the clear stream, but I don’t know where the ideal paradise cave is in the clear stream? Here, the wonderful scenery of Taoyuan Cave is The poet's eager longing but elusive mood is also revealed euphemistically and implicitly in the questions.
Seven-character quatrains are short in length, but to achieve long-lasting charm and profound artistic conception, in addition to paying attention to the precise wording and sentence making, it also requires ingenious conception. As a famous Qijue master in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, Zhang Xu was very good at conceiving ideas. This poem is written from far to near, from the front, and then uses the method of questioning to convey the reality into the virtual. The conception and layout are quite novel and ingenious. The author's brushwork is light and free, without tedious descriptions of the scenery or bright and vivid colors. He also uses the artistic conception of "Peach Blossom Spring" in an ethereal, natural and subtle way, thus creating a picturesque and interesting depth. realm.
Introduction to the poet
Zhang Xu (675-about 750), also known as Bogao and Jiming, was a Han nationality and a native of Wuxian County (now Suzhou, Jiangsu) in the Tang Dynasty. He once served as a county official in Changshu and had a long history in Jinwu. He is good at cursive calligraphy and good at drinking. He is known as Zhang Dian in the world and is also one of the "Eight Immortals of Drinking". At that time, his cursive script, together with Li Bai's poetry and Pei Min's sword dance, were known as the "Three Wonders". His poems were also unique, and he was famous for his seven unique styles. Together with Li Bai, He Zhizhang and others, he is listed as one of the Eight Immortals in Drinking. Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty once issued an edict to regard Li Bai's poetry, Pei Min's sword dance, and Zhang Xu's cursive calligraphy as the "three wonders". He also worked in poetry, and together with He Zhizhang, Zhang Ruoxu and Bao Rong, he was known as the "Four Scholars in Wuzhong". The handwritings handed down from ancient times include "Tie of Belly Pain", "Four Notes of Ancient Poems", etc.