Spring Hope
Tang Dynasty: Du Fu
The country is broken by mountains and rivers, and the city has deep spring vegetation.
I am moved to tears by the flowers, and the birds are frightened by the hatred.
The war rages on for three months, and a letter from home is worth ten thousand gold.
The white-headed scratches are shorter, and the lust is overwhelming.
Translation and annotations
Translation
Chang'an fell, the country was shattered, and only the mountains and rivers remained; spring came, and the sparsely populated Chang'an city was lush with vegetation.
When I feel sentimental about state affairs, I can’t help but burst into tears, and the birds chirping startle my heart, which only adds to the sorrow and hatred of separation.
The continuous war has lasted for more than half a year. Letters from home are rare, and one letter is worth ten thousand taels of gold.
Wrapped in melancholy, I scratched my head and thought. The white hair got shorter and shorter, and it was almost impossible to insert a hairpin.
Notes
Guo: The capital of the country, refers to Chang'an (today's Xi'an, Shaanxi). Break: fall. The mountains and rivers are still there: The mountains and rivers of the past still exist.
City: Chang'an City. Deep vegetation: refers to sparsely populated areas.
To be sentimental about the current situation of the country. Splash tears: shed tears.
Hate farewell: regretful farewell.
Beacon fire: the fireworks used by border police in ancient times, here refers to the wars of the Anshi Rebellion. March: January, February, March.
The ancient meaning of the country breaking through the mountains and rivers: the capital of the country. The current meaning: the country.
The ancient meaning of the hairpin is overwhelming. The modern meaning: muddy; confused.
Letters from home are worth ten thousand yuan. Jin Guyi: Xin Jinyi: Bound Works
Creative Background
In November of the fourteenth year of Tianbao (755), An Lushan rebelled against the Tang Dynasty. In June of the following year, the rebels captured Tongguan, and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty fled to Sichuan in a hurry. In July, Prince Li Heng was located in Lingwu (now part of Ningxia), known as Suzong in the world, and changed to Yuan Dynasty. After hearing the news, Du Fu settled his family in Duzhou and defected to Suzong's court alone. Unfortunately, he was captured by the rebels on the way and sent to Chang'an. He was not imprisoned because of his humble official position. In the spring of the second year of Zhide, Du Fu, who was in the occupied area, witnessed the desolate and desolate scene of Chang'an City. He had mixed feelings and wrote this masterpiece that has been passed down through the ages.
Appreciation
“The country is broken, the mountains and rivers are there, the city is springy and the vegetation is deep.” The beginning of the poem describes what Chun Wang sees: the mountains and rivers are still the same, but the country has fallen, and the city is also in the flames of war. It was dilapidated, overgrown with grass, and the trees were barren. In the poet's memory, the spring in Chang'an in the past was so prosperous, with birds singing and flowers fragrant, flying catkins filling the air, smoke and willows shining brightly, and tourists wandering around. But that scene has disappeared today. The word "broken" makes people frightened, and then the word "deep" makes people sad. When the poet writes about today's scenery, he actually expresses the sense of history that people have changed and things have changed. He places his emotions on things and relies on the scenery to express his emotions, creating a desolate and miserable atmosphere for the whole poem. Two completely opposite images of "national destruction" and "city spring" coexist and form a strong contrast. "City Spring" refers to the spring season when flowers, plants and trees are luxuriant and the scenery is bright. However, due to the "national destruction", the country declined and the capital fell, thus losing the splendor of spring. What is left are only ruins and "deep vegetation". ". The three words "deep vegetation" have a profound meaning, indicating that the city of Chang'an is no longer clean and orderly, but deserted and dilapidated, sparsely populated and overgrown with vegetation. Here, the poet feels sad when he sees things, expressing his strong sadness of separation.
“Flowers shed tears when feeling the time, and birds are frightened when they hate others.” Flowers shed tears when they are ruthless, and birds are frightened when they have no hatred. Flowers and birds have feelings of resentment because of people. The flowers in spring are originally delicate and bright, with charming fragrance; the birds in spring should be jumping for joy and singing euphemistic and sweet songs, bringing joy to people. "Feelings of time" and "hating farewell" both express Du Fu's sadness, depression and pain due to the time. The meaning of these two sentences can be understood as follows: I feel the defeated situation, and cry when I see the flowers blooming; I feel melancholy and resentful in my heart, and feel frightened when I hear the birdsong. People are suffering in their hearts, but when encountering a happy scene, it will cause more pain, just like "I will go there, and the willows will cling to it; now I come to think about it, and the rain and snow are falling." Du Fu inherited this artistic technique of expressing sadness through music and scenery, and imbued it with deeper emotions to achieve a richer artistic effect. The poet feels the bitter hatred of the destruction of his country and his family. The more beautiful the scene, the more painful it will be in his heart. This couplet describes the scenery, uses the scenery to create emotions, and empathizes with the objects. It expresses the poet's deep feelings of sadness about national affairs and missing his family.
"The war has been going on for three months, and a letter from home is worth ten thousand gold." The poet thought: The war has been going on continuously for a spring, and it still has not ended. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was forced to flee to Shu. Suzong of the Tang Dynasty had just succeeded to the throne. However, the government and army have not yet gained a favorable situation and have not yet been able to recapture Xijing. It seems that it is not known how long this war will last. He also recalled that he was exiled, captured, and detained in an enemy camp. He had no news from his wife and children for a long time. Their lives and deaths were uncertain, and they didn't know what was going on. It would be great to get a letter from the family. "A letter from home is worth ten thousand dollars" contains so much bitterness and expectation, reflecting the poet's eagerness when the news is cut off and the news never comes. War is the real reason why a letter from home is worth "ten thousand pieces of gold". This is also the sympathy of all the people who have been victimized by the war. It reflects the broad people's opposition to the war and their good wishes for peace and stability. It is natural to use Human beings make tinnitus.
"The hairpin is shorter when the white head is scratched, and the lust is overwhelming." The war rages on for months, letters from home fail to arrive, national worries and family worries come to mind, and domestic and foreign troubles are entangled and entangled.
There was a tragic scene in front of me, and I was extremely anxious inside. I didn't realize that at the moment of extreme boredom, I scratched my head and hesitated, my will hesitated, and my black hair turned into white hair. Since I left home, I have been wandering around in the war, and I have been trapped in Chang'an for several months. My hair has become even thinner. When I scratched my hair with my hands, I suddenly felt that it was thin and short, and I couldn't even insert a hairpin. The poet wrote about his own aging from the destruction of his country and family, the separation due to war. "White hair" is caused by sorrow, and "scratching" is to relieve the sorrow, which makes the sorrow worse. His hair has become white and thin. From the changes in his hair, readers can feel the pain and resentment in the poet's heart. The readers can more fully appreciate the true image of the poet who is sad, worried about his country and missing his family. This is a deeply touching, complete and full piece of art. image.
This poem is full of scenes, deep emotions, subtle and concise, and is concise and comprehensive, fully embodying the "depressed and frustrated" artistic style. Moreover, the structure of this poem is compact and revolves around the word "wang". The first four sentences express emotions through scenes and combine scenes. The poet looks from afar to a focused perspective, from far to near, and his emotions from weak to strong. In this cross-conversion of emotions and scenery, the poet's sighs, worries and indignation are implicitly conveyed. From the opening chapter describing the desolate scenery of the capital, to tears at the sight of spring flowers, and resentment at the sound of birdsong; to the war that lasted for a long time, with no news from home; and finally to his own sorrow and aging, all of which are connected and conveyed layer by layer. Progress, creating a realm that can arouse people's excitement and deep thinking. It expresses the typical feelings generated under the typical background of the times, reflects the good wishes of people of the same period to love the country and look forward to peace, and expresses the unanimous inner voice of everyone. It also shows the poet's noble emotions of worrying about the country and the people, and feeling sad about the times.
Du Fu?
Du Fu (712-770), also known as Zimei, called himself Shaoling Yelao, known as "Du Gongbu", "Du Shaoling", etc., Han nationality, Henan Prefecture A native of Gong County (now Gongyi City, Henan Province), Du Fu was a great realist poet in the Tang Dynasty. Du Fu was respected as the "Sage of Poetry" by the world, and his poems were called "the history of poetry". Du Fu and Li Bai are collectively known as "Li Du". In order to distinguish them from the other two poets Li Shangyin and Du Mu, known as "Little Li Du", Du Fu and Li Bai are also collectively known as "Big Li Du". He was concerned about the country and the people, and had a noble personality. About 1,400 of his poems have been preserved. His poetic skills are exquisite, and he is highly respected in Chinese classical poetry and has far-reaching influence. He lived in Chengdu from 759 to 766, and is commemorated by Du Fu's Thatched Cottage in later generations.