This poem contrasts the different characteristics of lotus and chrysanthemum, reminding the world to cherish time and the beauty of the present. Dongpo became an official for the second time and hit it off with Liu Jingwen. He not only feels sorry for his sadness, but also hopes that he will cheer up and not be depressed because of his old illness and poverty.
Original text:
The lotus flower withered, so did the lotus leaf holding the rain, and only the branches of chrysanthemum stood proudly against the frost. You must remember the best scenery in a year, which is in the late autumn and early winter of orange and green.
Translation:
The lotus flower withered, even the lotus leaf holding the rain withered, and only the flower branch that defeated the chrysanthemum stood proudly in the frost. You must remember that the best scenery in a year is in the late autumn and early winter when oranges are golden and green.
Text note:
1. Liu Jingwen: Liu, the word, is a poem about working. At that time, he was the commander-in-chief of Zhejiang military forces and stationed in Hangzhou. Su Shi regarded him as a national scholar, recommended him on the above table, and paid for his poems.
2. Lotus dried up: Lotus withered and withered. Qing: Lift it up, lift it up. This poem is a metaphor for the stretching of lotus leaves.
3. Chrysanthemum residue: Chrysanthemum withered. Ao Shuang: Not afraid of the cold, strong and unyielding.
Background introduction:
This poem was written by Su Shi when he was the magistrate of Hangzhou in the fifth year of Yuan You, Song Zhezong (1090). When Su Shi met Liu in Hangzhou, Liu was 58 years old. After Su Shi tried his best to protect the imperial court, Liu Cai got a little promotion. I don't want Wen Jing to die in just two years. Su Shi felt that Liu Yisheng was bumpy, so he wrote this poem according to the scenery.
Appreciate:
This poem is about the early winter scenery in Hangzhou. At this time, the lotus has withered. It is no longer Yang Wanli who writes about summer lotus flowers. "The next day, the lotus leaf was infinitely bright, and the lotus reflected the sun in a different color." Su Dongpo wrote about the scene of early winter. In early winter in Hangzhou, the lotus has already withered, and even the lotus leaf can't be seen, but the most beautiful flower at this time is chrysanthemum.
So he used lotus flowers to contrast chrysanthemums and highlight their characteristics. So he said, "Lotus flowers have no shelter from the rain, chrysanthemums and Ao Shuang branches." . It is said that after the lotus withered, even the leaves fell, but the chrysanthemum stood proudly after the wind and frost! Chrysanthemum is also a favorite plant of ancient poets, because it often blooms in late autumn or early winter. When chrysanthemums are in full bloom, other flowers begin to wither.
Chrysanthemum, however, does not have many branches and leaves, and it still stands proudly even after the wind and frost. "Mei Zhu Lan Ju" was called "Four Gentlemen" by ancient scholars, and Chrysanthemum was called "the hermit outside the world" because of its maverick, which also showed Liu Jingwen's noble and great personality.
The whole poem is full of praise and encouragement. However, Dongpo was fifty-five years old when he wrote this poem, and he has entered old age. Of course, he can't predict that he will be exiled to Hainan in the near future, but he has always been optimistic and never intimidated by adversity.
Su Shi used this poem to encourage his friends, and so did he. His unrestrained broad mind and optimistic attitude towards life are admirable, and the positive energy he released is still inspiring today after thousands of years!