When hundreds of rivers flow eastward to the sea, when will they return to the west? It comes from "Chang Ge Xing" written by Han Yuefu in the Han Dynasty. "Chang Ge Xing" comes from "Yuefu Poetry Collection".
1. Original text
The sunflowers in the green garden are waiting for the sun to set in the morning dew. In the spring of Budeze, all things will be radiant.
I am often afraid that when the autumn festival comes, the yellow flowers and leaves will wither. From the east to the sea, when will the rivers return to the west?
If a young man does not work hard, the old man will be miserable.
2. Interpretation
The sunflowers in the garden are all lush and green, rising under the crystal dew in the sun. Spring spreads hope all over the earth, and everything appears prosperous. I am often afraid that the chilling autumn will come, and the leaves will turn yellow and the grass will wither. Hundreds of rivers are rushing eastward to the sea. When can they return to the west again? If young people don't work hard in time, they will only regret it for the rest of their lives when they grow old. Extended information
1. Creative background
Yuefu is a court music institution established since the Qin Dynasty. In addition to singing the literati's poems praising their virtues to music, it is also responsible for collecting folk songs. It was greatly expanded during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and a large number of poetry works were collected from the people, with rich content and a wide range of themes. This poem is one of the Yuefu poems of the Han Dynasty. Long singing refers to a free style singing style with the tune of "long singing".
2. Appreciation
This poem starts with "Sunflower in the Garden" and then uses the metaphor of water flowing to the sea and never coming back to illustrate that time is like flowing water, which will never return once it goes away. Finally, I advise people to cherish their youth, work hard, and not regret it when they are old. This poem uses physical reasoning, first using sunflowers in the garden as a metaphor. "Qingqing" refers to its lush growth.
In fact, under the sunshine and rain throughout the spring, everything is striving to grow. Because they are all afraid that autumn will come soon, and they know the reason why the autumn wind withers all the grass. The rhythm of life in nature is like this, and so is life.
If a person does not take advantage of the good times and work hard and let his youth be wasted, it will be too late to regret when he is old. This poem reflects on the perishable life of youth and encourages young people to cherish time.
3. Introduction to the source
The literary genre of "Yuefu Poetry Collection" is Yuefu poetry. It is a comprehensive collection of ancient Chinese Yuefu poetry after "The Book of Songs·Wind". Compiled by Guo Maoqian of the Northern Song Dynasty.
The "Collection of Yuefu Poems" divides the Yuefu poems into suburban temple songs, Yanshe songs, drumming songs, horizontal blowing songs, Xianghe songs, Qing Shang songs, dance music and Qin music. , 12 categories including miscellaneous song lyrics, modern song lyrics, miscellaneous song lyrics and new Yuefu lyrics.
It is divided into several sub-categories, such as "Hengchui Quci" is divided into Han Hengchui Qu, Lianggujiao Hengxiu, etc.; Xianghe Song Ci is further divided into Xianghe Liuyin, Xianghe Qu, and Yintan. There are four categories: Qu, Ping Tiao, Qing Tiao, Se Tiao, Chu Tiao and Daqu. Qing and Shang operas are further divided into Wu Shengge and Xiqu.
Among these different pieces of music, Jiao Temple Songs and Yanshe Songs are movements used by the imperial court, and their ideological content and artistic skills are less desirable. There are also some works of advocacy music and dance music that have poor artistic value.
But in general, most of the poems it collects are excellent folk songs and poems written by literati using old Yuefu titles. Among the existing poetry collections, "Yuefu Poetry Collection" is an important book that was written earlier and has the most complete collection of various Yuefu poems from past dynasties.