Shen Xiao Xiu Lü (Volumes 1-4)

Author: Jin Yong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: Excerpt: "The Yue girls pick lotus by the autumn waterside,
Narrow sleeves of light silk, hidden gold bracelets.
Reflecting their shadows as they pick lotus flowers,
Their hearts entangled with silk threads in confusion.
At the creek's edge, the wind rages late,
Mist heavy, smoke light, the companions of their coming unseen.
A faint song drifts on the distant boat,
Leaving behind the sorrow that guides them to the Jiangnan shores."
A gentle, melodious voice drifts over the misty lake.
The song comes from a small boat where five girls laugh and sing,
Rowing to pick lotus flowers.
The tune they sing is the "Butterfly Lovers" by the great Northern Song poet Ouyang Xiu,
Describing the scene of Yue girls picking lotus.
Though only sixty-four characters long, it vividly depicts the season, time, location, scenery,
The appearance, clothing, jewelry, and emotions of the Yue girls.
The second stanza narrates amidst scenery,
And emotions amidst the narrative,
Moving from near to far, leaving endless meaning.
Ouyang Xiu, having long served in Jiangnan,
Fused the tender feelings of the Wu and Yue mountains and waters into his verses.
During the Song Dynasty, both nobles and commoners enjoyed singing lyrics,
Thus when Liu Yong's new songs emerged, they were sung everywhere,
And along the Jiangnan spring shores, where willows were,
Autumn lakes saw lotus picking, often accompanied by Ouyang's verses."