Cold Chrysanthemum is a seven-character quatrain written by Zheng Sixiao, a poet in the Southern Song Dynasty. This object-chanting poem symbolizes the noble spirit of being loyal to the old country and never bowing to the new dynasty.
Every sentence in the poem is written with the natural attributes of cold chrysanthemum, and beauty is related to these natural attributes everywhere, suggesting the poet's feelings. "Embracing incense" refers to a person's noble national sentiment, and "North Wind" is a pun, implying the Mongolian ruler from the north. This poem is heroic and enthusiastic, and it is a sensation.
Text appreciation
This poem entitled "Cold Chrysanthemum" shows Zheng Sixiao's ideological character and open mind. Poetry begins with the fragrance of the evening: flowers bloom in the bright spring, and the unique chrysanthemum stands in the fierce wind and frost, not competing with flowers. Zheng went on to write that the flowers had withered, and only chrysanthemums stood by the hedge, which was full of interest.
The "interest" here not only refers to the natural interest of chrysanthemum in resisting frost and blooming alone, but also includes the painter's subjective interest in chrysanthemum image, that is, lofty, faithful, sincere and complacent. Tao Yuanming's interest in "picking chrysanthemums under the hedge" and "making sense" is integrated into the poem.
Fan Chengda mentioned the saying that "Chrysanthemum is not as good as a gentleman" in Preface to Chrysanthemum in Fan Village. As the saying goes, when people get old, flowers and trees will decline, which is the only thing that makes your hair look beautiful and proud. This is a gentleman's practice. Fan Chengda's preface is consistent with the theme of Zheng Sixiao's poems, and the model essay can help us understand the profound connotation of Zheng Sixiao's poetic images.