Yu Shinan's poem "Cicada" passionately praises the noble (noble or self-sufficient) personality by depicting the personified cicada.
Original poem:
"Cicada" Tang Dynasty: Yu Shinan
The hanging stilts drink the clear dew, and the sound of the flowing water flows out of the sparse tung trees.
It is not to borrow the autumn wind to speak loudly and from a distance.
Interpretation:
The cicada drooped its tentacles like tassels to suck the clear and sweet dew, and the sound came from the tall and sparse sycamore branches.
The sound of cicadas spreads far and wide because they live in high trees rather than relying on the autumn wind.
Extended information:
After Li Shimin seized the throne from Li Yuan, Yu Shinan was appointed as a bachelor of Hongwen Hall and became an important minister. However, he was never arrogant and was down-to-earth and diligent, which made Li Shimin highly praise him and win him a lot of praise. He appreciated him, so he often invited him to participate in some ceremonial activities. One day, Li Shimin got up and invited the bachelors of Hongwen Museum to enjoy the scenery of the sea and pool, talk about poetry and painting. Li Shimin asked everyone if they had any new poetry works, and Yu Shinan recited the poem.
"To speak loudly and stay far away is not to borrow the autumn wind", this is the finishing touch of the whole article Bixing's sustenance. It is a poetic discussion based on the previous two sentences. Most people often think that the sound of cicadas is carried far away by the autumn wind, but the poet has a different understanding, emphasizing that it is because "living high" can reach far distances.
This unique feeling contains a truth: a person with a noble character does not need some external support (such as a powerful position, the help of powerful people) to become famous far and wide, just like Cao Pi in "Classics". As it is said in "Thesis", "It is not false words of good history, it is not relying on the momentum of rapid speed, but the reputation will be passed down to the future." What is highlighted here is the beauty of personality and the power of personality.
The words "自" and "Fei" in the two sentences are positive and negative, echoing each other, expressing enthusiastic praise and high confidence in people's inner character, and showing a graceful and unhurried attitude. of demeanor. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty repeatedly praised Yu Shinan's "five virtues" (virtue, loyalty, erudition, literary poetry, and calligraphy). The personified "cicada" in the poet's works may have a self-proclaimed meaning.
Shen Deqian said: "Every time a cicada chanter chants his voice, his character is respected." ("Tang Poems") This is indeed a groundbreaking theory.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Cicada (a poem by Yu Shinan of the Tang Dynasty)