Full text
Jiangnan (Han Yuefu①)
Lotus can be picked in Jiangnan.
Lotus leaves are everywhere,
Fish are playing among the lotus leaves.
The fish plays with the lotus leaves to the east,
The fish plays with the lotus leaves to the west,
The fish plays with the lotus leaves to the south,
The fish plays with the lotus leaves north.
Notes
① This is a Hanyue (yuè) folk song.
② Tiantian: The lotus leaves are lush.
Note: This poem describes the scene of watching fish playing with lotus leaves while picking lotus. "Yuefu Jieti" says: ""Jiangnan", an ancient poem, describes the beautiful scenery in the morning, and it's a good time to swim." The last four sentences use repeated sentence patterns to show the light and agile movement of fish shuttling between lotus leaves. The appearance conveys the happy mood of the lotus pickers. Another reason why the word "Lotus" is used in ancient poetry is because "Lotus" and "Lian" have the same pronunciation, so it is also used to mean "love". For example, in the "Xizhou Song" of Yuefu in the Southern Dynasties: "Collecting lotus in the south pond in autumn, The lotus is over the head. Lower your head to touch the lotus seeds, which are as clear as water. "A poem about loving the lotus" written by Zhou Dunyi of the Song Dynasty: "I only love the lotus that comes out of the mud but is not stained. It is clear and not evil. It is straight in the middle and straight in the outside." The vines are not branches, the fragrance is clear from afar, and the pavilions are clean and planted, which can be viewed from a distance but not played with." It also gave the lotus an image of noble character. From then on, the lotus was known as the "gentleman among flowers."
Author's Biography Yuefu was originally an official office in charge of music established during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. In addition to setting and singing poems by literati in praise of their virtues, it was also responsible for collecting folk songs. These movements and lyrics were later collectively referred to as "Yuefu poems" or "Yuefu poems". There are only more than 40 folk songs in the Yuefu of the Han Dynasty that have survived to this day. Most of them came from the mouths of the lower class people. They reflected certain social contradictions at that time and have high cognitive value. At the same time, their style is simple and straightforward, without any refinement. It has a unique aesthetic interest.