Full poem:
The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu.
Thousands of households always exchange old talismans for new peaches.
Poem title: "Yuan Day" Song Dynasty: Wang Anshi
Translation:
The old year has passed with the sound of firecrackers, and I am happy with the warm spring breeze. Drink Tusu wine freely. The rising sun shines on thousands of households, and they all take off the old peach charms and replace them with new ones.
Notes:
1. Yuan Day: the first day of the first lunar month, which is the Spring Festival.
2. Firecrackers: The sound made by the explosion of bamboo when ancient people burned it. It was used to drive away ghosts and avoid evil spirits, and later evolved into setting off firecrackers.
3. Except: passing away.
4. Tusu: refers to Tusu wine. Drinking Tusu wine is also an ancient custom during the Chinese New Year. On the first day of the new year, the whole family drinks this kind of wine soaked in Tusu grass to ward off evil spirits and avoid plagues, and to obtain good fortune. longevity.
5. Thousands of households: describes numerous households and dense population.
6. 曈曈: The bright and warm appearance at sunrise.
7. Peach: Peach charm is an ancient custom. On the first day of the first lunar month, people write the names of the two gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei on peach boards and hang them by the door to suppress evil spirits. Also used as Spring Festival couplets. Extended information
This poem was written when Wang Anshi first paid homage to the prime minister and began to implement his new policy. In order to get rid of the political and economic crisis faced by the Song Dynasty and the constant intrusion of Liao and Xixia, in 1068, Song Shenzong summoned Wang Anshi to "come into power more and more times", and Wang Anshi immediately wrote a letter advocating reform. The following year, he was appointed as the political advisor and presided over the reform. On the New Year's Day of the same year, Wang Anshi thought of the new atmosphere at the beginning of the reform and wrote this poem.
The poem describes the scene of getting rid of the old and welcoming the new during the Spring Festival. It is based on folk customs, sensitively absorbs the typical materials of the people celebrating the Spring Festival, and captures the representative life details: lighting firecrackers, drinking Tusu wine, Replacement of new peach charms fully reflects the joyful atmosphere of the New Year and is rich in the flavor of life.
The work uses line drawing techniques to exaggerate the joyful festive atmosphere. At the same time, it expresses its own thoughts through the customs of the New Year's Day renewal in a subtle way.