Title: Place Names in Poetry
Tags:
- Travel
- Record
- Reflection
Categories: - Thoughts
Date: 2023-05-01 00:32:17
Excerpt: Life continues endlessly, the river and the moon look the same every year.
I have always been passionate about visiting the places mentioned in poetry when I travel. It often gives me a feeling, as Zhang Ruoxu said, "Life continues endlessly, the river and the moon look the same every year." Another reason that makes me so passionate is that the personal feelings condensed by the ancients at a certain location due to events or scenery can still be read by me today. And the places or place names where they were can still be passed down to this day. Each of these two points is rare, and when both happen at the same time, it is even rarer.
Yangzhou#
Weiyang#
Yangzhou Slow - Jiang Kui
On the day of Chunxi Bingshen, I passed by Weiyang. The night snow had just cleared, and the shepherd's purse stretched as far as the eye could see. Upon entering the city, I looked around and saw desolation. The cold water was blue, and as the evening approached, the sound of the watchtower lamented. I felt a sense of sadness and sighed about the past and present, so I composed this song. The old man of Qianyan thought it was as sad as the song "Shu Li".
Huai's left capital, a beautiful place west of the bamboo, I dismounted after traveling only ten miles in the spring breeze, and the shepherd's purse was everywhere. Since the departure of the Hu horse peeking at the river, the abandoned pond and tall trees still dislike the mention of war. As dusk approached, the clear horn blew in the cold, echoing in the empty city.
Du Lang's talent and appreciation are extraordinary, and it is surprising to see him again. Even though he is skilled in writing romantic poems, the dream of the brothel is hard to express deep emotions. The twenty-four bridges are still there, with ripples in the heart, and the cold moon is silent. I think of the red medicine by the bridge, who knows who it blooms for every year?
Yangzhou has a tumultuous history, with many wars and conflicts. When Jiang Kui wrote this poem, Yangzhou had just emerged from a period of turmoil. However, he depicted it with great artistic conception. I think the name of this poem is beautiful in itself. With a simple character "slow," it portrays a desirable pace of life.
Guazhou#
- On a snowy night, the boat crosses Guazhou, the iron horse scatters at the Great Wall in the autumn wind.
- Between Jingkou and Guazhou, there is only one river.
Guazhou Ferry is now a park. I have passed by it, but I haven't been inside yet.
You can experience "one river" by taking the Yangzhou Ferry. The experience is quite good: large trucks, cars, and people all sharing one boat. The river is wide, and the river wind is strong, even a bit cold.
Twenty-Four Bridges#
- On a moonlit night on the Twenty-Four Bridges, where is the beautiful lady playing the flute?
- The Twenty-Four Bridges are still there, with ripples in the heart, and the cold moon is silent.
When I read "On a moonlit night on the Twenty-Four Bridges" before, I subconsciously imagined it as twenty-four bridges illuminated by moonlight. But now, the Twenty-Four Bridges is a scenic spot in the Slender West Lake area, with only one bridge. However, according to the experience of Mr. Huang Yongyu, when he was young, he also went to find it, but after a "hard trip," he couldn't even find the foundation of the twenty-four bridges. If the bridge is in the Slender West Lake area, I don't think he would need to make such an effort. So I still prefer to keep my previous imagination.
Chunjiang#
Spring River Flower Moon Night - Zhang Ruoxu
The spring river tide merges with the sea, and the bright moon rises above the sea.
The waves follow the waves for thousands of miles, and there is no place on the spring river without a bright moon!
The river flows around the fragrant fields, and the moon shines on the flower forest like hail.
The frost in the air flies unnoticed, and the white sand on the beach is invisible.
The river and sky are one color without a speck of dust, and the bright moon hangs alone in the empty sky.
Who was the first to see the moon by the river? In what year did the river moon first shine on people?
Life continues endlessly, the river and the moon look the same every year.
Who knows who the river moon is waiting for, but I see the Yangtze River sending flowing water.
A piece of white cloud drifts leisurely, and on the green maple shore, sorrow is overwhelming.
Whose boatman is it tonight? Where is the longing for the bright moon tower?
Pity the moon lingering above the tower, it should reflect the mirror of the departing person.
The jade curtain cannot be rolled up, and the beating cloth on the pounding board returns.
At this moment, we can see each other but not hear each other. I wish to follow the moonlight to shine on you.
The geese fly for a long time without crossing the light, and the fish and dragons swim silently, turning the water into words.
Last night, in a dream, fallen flowers on a quiet pool, pity the spring halfway without returning home.
The spring water flows away as it nears its end, and the moon falls over the river and slants west again.
The slanting moon sinks into the boundless mist, and the Jieshi Xiaoxiang road is endless.
Who knows how many people return by moonlight? The falling moon shakes the emotions of the Jiang tree.
There are various interpretations of Chunjiang in this poem, but they all refer to Yangzhou. (When I was in middle school, I memorized it because of its reputation as "the best poem of the Tang Dynasty," but even now, I still can't fully appreciate it. My memorization is also scattered, and I feel ashamed.)