Contains the meaning of farewell and nostalgia.
Breaking willows: When the ancients said goodbye, there was a custom of breaking willow branches as gifts. It first appeared in the first chapter of Han Yuefu's "The Song of Folding Willows". The word "break willow" means "seeing farewell and cherishing the distance". In ancient my country, once relatives and friends were separated, the sender would always break a willow stick and give it to the traveler. When people parted, they broke willow sticks to send each other as a way to miss their relatives and miss them. The custom of breaking willows to express feelings for old friends was first seen in "Xiaoya; Plucking Wei" in my country's first collection of poems, "The Book of Songs": "I have gone away in the past." , the willows are lingering; now I come to think of them, the rain and snow are falling." In ancient times, willows were also called small poplars or willows, because "liu" and "liu" are homophonic, which can mean to persuade them to stay. Giving willows in parting means that it is difficult to separate and cannot bear to leave. The feeling of farewell and reluctance.
Translation: I recall that when I went on the expedition, the willows were still blowing in the wind; now on the way back, the road is full of mud and mud, and I am full of sadness. Full of sadness. Who can understand my sorrow?
Extended information:
Related stories of Zheliu:
Li Zhiwen, an official in the Song Dynasty, fell in love with Nie Shengqiong, a famous courtesan in the capital. When Li Jiang returned to his hometown, Nie Shengqiong bid farewell to him. He drank in the Lotus Tower and sang a poem. The last line was: "I have no plan to stay in spring, but I have no plan to go with you." "For this reason, Li Zhiwen stayed for more than a month. Later, because his wife pressed too hard, Li had to leave sadly. Within ten days, Nie Shengqiong wrote a song "Partridge Sky" and sent it to Li Zhiwen. Asked.
Li found it on the way and hid it in a box. After returning home, Li had to tell the truth. Mrs. Li read "Partridge Sky" and saw that its sentences were very clear. Happy. Not only did he not stop Li Nie's love affair, but he used his private money to let Li Zhiwen go to the capital to marry Nie Shengqiong.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Zheliu