The Thrush
Song Dynasty: Ouyang Xiu
It chirps a thousand times and moves at will, the mountain flowers are red and the purple trees are high and low.
I just realized that listening to the golden cage is not as good as the free cry in the forest.
Collect and copy the next like 1207
Three hundred ancient poems about birds, people, and early childhood education
Translations and annotations
Translation
The blackbird sings thousands of times, flying in the forest according to his own thoughts, flying freely among the branches full of red and purple mountain flowers.
Now I know: The cry of the thrush locked in the golden cage that I heard before is far inferior to the free singing when roaming in the forest.
Notes
Chirp: A bird cries gracefully.
At will: follow one's own (bird's) wishes.
Tree height: A high or low place in the woods.
Golden cage: a precious birdcage, which refers to a residence with no worries about food and drink and excellent living conditions.
Hundreds of chirps and thousands of sounds: describes the thrush’s calls as tactful and full of variety.
Begin to know: Only now do you know.
Not as good as: Far inferior to. ▲
Useful (897) Useless (264)
Reference materials:
1. Zhang Ming. Selected Song Poems: People's Literature Publishing House, 2004: 89. 2. Liu Yongsheng. Selected Song Poems: Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing House, 1997: 59. 3. Huang Jinde． Selected Reviews of Ouyang Xiu's Poems and Texts: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 2004: 88.
Appreciation
This is a poem that chants things. It is different from the leisure works of chanting flowers and admiring crows, and it is also different from the general poems that chant things and express feelings. A philosophical poem with profound philosophical interest. The poem expresses the poet's melancholy after being demoted to another position by praising Thrush's free life. It expresses the poet's eager desire to yearn for and pursue a free life. At the same time, it also expresses the poet's strong hatred and denial of all kinds of restraints and prohibitions that restrict personality and suppress talents.
The first two sentences of "Thrush" by Ouyang Xiu describe the scene: The thrush sings thousands of times, dancing gracefully one high and one low, making the bright red and purple mountain flowers even more pleasing to the eye. The last two sentences are lyrical: Seeing those birds in cages, I really envy the blackbirds flying in the forest, free and unrestrained. What should also be understood here is that the author Ouyang Xiu was demoted to Chuzhou due to being ostracized in the court at this time, so we can understand his mood when writing this poem.
Finally, the contrast is sharp and the contrast is strong. The first two sentences, through the contrast of sound and color, depict a free and vibrant scene in the mountain forest: the thrush is free, its singing is melodious, and its living environment is so beautiful. The author's real intention of writing this way is to form a sharp contrast with the last two sentences. The second two sentences also use the comparison between "golden cage" and "mountain" to illustrate that "Locked to the golden cage and listened" is far less beautiful than the song "Crying freely in the mountains". The reason is that it is imprisoned and has lost its freedom. . In this way, the four words "locked to the golden cage" form a strong contrast with the scene described in the first two sentences. The poet expresses his profound emotions, calling for freedom, singing freedom, pursuing freedom, making freedom the main theme of the whole poem. . Clever use of contrast techniques, clear contrast, and strong contrast are helpful to highlight the theme of the poem.
This poem combines scenes with profound meaning, reflecting the author's pursuit and yearning for a free life. ▲
Useful (507) Useless (258)
Reference materials:
1. Zhang Ming. Selected Song Poems: People's Literature Publishing House, 2004: 89. 2. Huang Jinde． Selected Reviews of Ouyang Xiu's Poems and Texts: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 2004: 88.
Creative background
The specific creation time of this poem is unknown. There are three theories circulated in the academic world: from the third year of Jingyou (1036 AD) to the first year of Kangding (1040 AD) ; Between August of the eighth year of Qingli (1048 AD) and the first year of Zhihe (1054 AD); June of the fourth year of Xining (1071 AD) to July 23 of the fifth year of Xining (1072 AD) , during which Ouyang Xiu resigned as the Prince's Young Master.
Useful (152) Useless (74)
Reference materials:
1. Liu Yongsheng． Selected Song Poems: Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing House, 1997: 59. 2. Huang Jinde． Selected Reviews of Ouyang Xiu's Poems and Texts: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 2004: 88.
Ouyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072), whose courtesy name was Yongshu, also known as Zuiweng, and later as "Liuyi Jushi". Han nationality, native of Yongfeng, Jizhou (now Yongfeng County, Jiangxi Province). Because Jizhou originally belonged to Luling County, he called himself "Luling Ouyang Xiu". His posthumous title was Wenzhong, and he was known as Ouyang Wenzhonggong in the world. Politicians, writers, and historians of the Northern Song Dynasty, together with Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, Wang Anshi, Su Xun, Su Shi, Su Che, and Zeng Gong, are collectively known as the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties". Later generations called him, Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan and Su Shi, the "Four Great Masters of Eternal Writing". ? 1339 poems
Collect copy and like 1206
Guess you like it
Recite, appreciate and comment the translation
The poems of the same generation have not yet been opened Begonia
Jin Dynasty: Yuan Haowen
The branches are full of fresh green, and the little buds hide a few dots of red.
Don’t vomit when you cherish your beauty, and teach the peaches and plums to make spring breeze.
Collect copy like 373
Three hundred ancient poems, chanting things, describing flowers, embodying people, admonishing, and describing scenes