Tang and Song Poetry and Health

Author: Jinghui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Cicada in Tang · Yu Shennan drinks clear dew, the sound flows out from sparse ginkgo. High in position, the voice naturally travels far, not relying on the autumn wind.
[Author Introduction] Yu Shennan (558–638), styled Boshi, was from Yuyao. He was calm, restrained in desires, deeply engaged in reading, and wrote elegant and elaborate prose. During the Sui Dynasty, he served as a Librarian. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, he became a Military Secretary of Qin Mansion and later promoted to a Palace Attendant to the Crown Prince. During Emperor Taizong's reign, he held positions such as Scholar of the Hongwen Academy and Librarian. Emperor Taizong praised his virtue, loyalty, erudition, literary talent, and calligraphy as the "Five Perfections." His calligraphy blended softness and strength, with vigorous and forceful lines, and was ranked alongside Ou Yangxun, Chu Suiliang, and Xue Ji as one of the "Four Great Calligraphers of Early Tang." His poetic style was similar to his calligraphic style—clear and elegant yet robust. He left behind a collection of thirty volumes, with one volume of poetry compiled today.
[Annotations] 1. Chuirui (): A hanging ribbon, referring to the cicada lowering its head.
[Analysis] This is a poem that uses an object to express meaning, with the poet vividly depicting the subject. The first line, "Chuirui," paired with "qinglu" (clear dew), superficially describes the cicada's form and diet, actually praising its nobility and elegance. The second line uses "liuxiang" (flowing sound) to commend the cicada's voice, and the character "chu" (to emerge) makes the transmission of the sound even more vivid. The term "shutong" (sparse ginkgo) further highlights the tall and sturdy branches of the ginkgo tree, echoing the final line "autumn wind." The poet's portrayal of the cicada's voice leads to a natural transition and the key lines of the third and fourth stanzas. The high-pitched sound of the cicada is not achieved through wind but because it is perched high. This implies that people of noble character do not need external factors like power to gain fame—they naturally resonate far. At the same time, it suggests that gentlemen should, like the cicada, rise high and let their voices travel far, thus not relying on or being constrained by external things. This poem uses the cicada as a metaphor for people, with a clever structure and profound meaning, teaching people about the cultivation of character at a deeper level. The famous psychoanalyst Freud believed that the personality is a holistic structure composed of the id, ego, and superego. Striving for a healthy personality is a major pursuit in life, and a healthy personality is based on an ever-expanding psychological space. Today, to adapt to social changes, the most important thing is to cultivate a healthy soul and the healthy personality forged by it. This requires a broad-minded heart; only then can life develop and withstand tests. At the same time, it is essential to avoid personality disintegration. Personality disintegration is actually a psychological illness, making a perfectly normal person seem like a different person. The correct way to eliminate the psychological illness caused by personality disintegration is to face reality, moderate self-expectations, restore psychological balance, go with the flow, resolve conflicts, find oneself, and face things correctly, achieving a leap in thought. P1-2