"Poems to Encourage Learning/Occasionally" Author: Zhu Xi

It is easy for a young man to learn, but it is difficult for an old man to succeed, so an inch of time should not be taken lightly. I haven't noticed the dream of spring grass in the pond, but the phoenix leaves in front of the steps have already sounded in autumn.

Translation: It is very easy to pass away the days of youth, but it is difficult to achieve success in learning, so you must cherish every inch of time and not let it go easily. Before I could wake up from the sweet dream of spring grass growing in the pond, the leaves of the sycamore tree in front of the steps were already rustling in the autumn wind.

Notes:

1. Dream of Spring Grass in the Pond: This is an allusion originating from "The Biography of Xie Fangming in Southern History". The brother's spiritual luck praised it and said: "Every chapter, there is always a good story about Hui Lian." I tasted the four poems in the West Hall of Yongjia and couldn't finish it. Suddenly I dreamed of Hui Lian, and I got "Spring grass grows in the pond", which made me think. work. Chang Yun: "This language is magical, and it is not my language." "Spring grass grows in the pond, and the willows in the garden turn into songbirds" is a poem in Xie Lingyun's "Climbing the Pond and Up the Tower", which was later praised as an eternal famous line about spring. Here, it is used. , which means that the beautiful youth will soon disappear, like a spring dream.

2. Autumn sounds: In autumn, the west wind blows, the grass and trees wither, and there are many chilling sounds.

1. Appreciation:

This is an epic poem. The specific writing year is unknown, probably in the late Shaoxing period (1162). This poem was widely circulated in Japan, and spread like wildfire in mainland my country. It was thought to be written by Zhu Xi, so it was temporarily kept for reference. Its main purpose is to persuade young people to cherish their time and study hard, and it can be used to persuade others and to warn themselves. The language of this poem is clear and easy to understand, and the images are vivid and vivid. Time passes quickly and years pass easily. The metaphor of spring grass in the pond before dreaming, and the sudden sound of autumn in the parasol trees in front of the steps is very appropriate and doubles the power of exhortation.

2. Introduction to the author:

Zhu Xi (September 15, 1130 - April 23, 1200), line 52, nicknamed Fu Lang, nicknamed Ji Yan, The character Yuan Hui, the first word Zhong Hui, the nickname Hui'an, later called Hui Weng, also known as Mr. Ziyang, Mr. Kaoting, Cangzhou sick old man, Yungu old man, Cangzhou sick old man, Niweng. Posthumous title Wen, also known as Zhu Wengong. Han nationality, ancestral home is Wuyuan County, Huizhou Prefecture, Jiangnan East Road, Southern Song Dynasty (now Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province), and was born in Youxi, Nanjian Prefecture (now Sanming City, Fujian). A famous Neo-Confucian, thinker, philosopher, educator, poet, and representative of the Fujian School in the Southern Song Dynasty, known as Zhu Zi in the world, he was the most outstanding master in promoting Confucianism since Confucius and Mencius.