"The Theory of Love of Lotus" is a work of Northern Song Dynasty scholar Zhou Dunyi. It is selected from "Zhou Dunyi Collection" and is an argumentative essay. "Ai Lian Shuo" is a rare masterpiece handed down from generation to generation in this kind of literary style that supports things and expresses aspirations. What I bring to you below is Ailian Shuo Traditional Chinese Calligraphy. I hope you like it. Ailian talks about traditional Chinese calligraphy appreciation

Ailian talks about traditional Chinese calligraphy 1

Ailian talks about traditional Chinese calligraphy 2

Love Love Lotus talks about Traditional Chinese calligraphy 3

Love Lotus talks about Traditional Chinese calligraphy 4

Love Lotus talks about Traditional Chinese calligraphy 5

Original text of "Love Lotus talks"

The flowers of land and water are very lovely. Tao Yuanming of Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Since the Li and Tang Dynasties, people have loved peonies very much. I only love the lotus that emerges from the mud but is not stained, washes the ripples clear without being evil, is straight in the middle and has no vines or branches.

I say chrysanthemum, the flower that represents recluse; peony, the flower that represents wealth; lotus, the flower that represents the gentleman. Alas! The love of chrysanthemum is rarely heard of after Tao. Who can share the love of the lotus? The love of the peony should be given to everyone.

Translation of "The Theory of Love and Lotus"

There are many flowers that can be loved among the herbaceous and woody flowers on water and land. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Since the Tang Dynasty, people in the world have loved peonies. I only like the lotus. It grows out of the mud, but is not contaminated by the mud; it does not look charming after being washed with clear water. Its stem is straight in the middle, straight in shape, with no branches or branches. The farther the fragrance spreads, the quieter it becomes. It stands there straight and clean. (People) can watch it from a distance, but they cannot get close to play with it.

I believe that the chrysanthemum is the hermit among flowers; the peony is the wealthy flower among flowers; and the lotus is the gentleman among flowers. Alas! (The interjection is used as a particle here to emphasize the tone.) The love for chrysanthemums is rarely heard of after Tao Yuanming. Who loves lotus like me? There must be many people who love peony.

Creation background of "The Theory of Love of Lotus"

In the fourth year of Song Xining (AD 1071), the famous Neo-Confucian Zhou Dunyi came to Xingzi to serve as the military commander of Nankang. Zhou Dunyi was an upright and upright person with an indifferent mind. He did not go along with the secular world and loved lotus flowers all his life.

After Zhou Dunyi came to Xingzi, he dug a pond on the east side of the military office and planted lotus flowers in it. Zhou Dunyi was already in his twilight years (55 years old) and ill when he came to Xingzi, so after dinner, he would either be alone or invite friends from his staff to enjoy the flowers and drink tea by the pool. He loved the whiteness of the lotus and was moved by it. In the chaos of officialdom, he wrote a popular prose "Ai Lian Shuo". Although "Ai Lian Shuo" is short, every word is exquisite, and has always been recited by people.

A year later, Zhou Dunyi resigned from his post due to old age and frailty, and settled down to build a church at the northwest foot of Mount Lu to give lectures. The lotus pond he left behind and the "Shuo on Love of the Lotus" have always been cherished by those who came after him. In the sixth year of Chunxi (1179 AD), Zhu Xi was transferred to Nankang Zhijun. Full of admiration for Zhou Dunyi, he rebuilt the Ailian Pond and established the Ailian Hall. He also obtained the ink of Zhou Dunyi's "Ailian Theory" from Zhou Zhiqing, Zhou's great-grandson. Ask someone to carve it on a stone and stand it by the pool. Zhu Xi wrote a poem: Hearing the path moved his roots to the jade well, and the flowers bloomed ten miles apart. The moon was bright and cold, and no one saw it. It only brought joy to the teacher. When appreciating "The Theory of Love of the Lotus", the key point is to "get out of the mud but not stained, and wash the lotus to make it clear but not evil". This is the central theme of the whole text. The ancients generally used objects to express their feelings when writing articles. The same sentence has two meanings, one metaphorical and one expressing feelings. Similarly, "Cleaning out the silt without staining, washing the clear lotus without being evil" also has a second layer of expressive meaning. It is a metaphor that the author himself has the noble character of being able to emerge from the mud without being stained, and wash the lotus without being evil. In fact, what he means is: the officialdom is dark, and maintaining a noble character in the officialdom is as difficult as a lotus emerging from the mud without being stained.

This is also a summary of his experience as an official, because he does not want to join the others. "To wash lotus leaves without being evil" is just a good wish of the author.

How can you keep your shoes from getting wet when you often walk by the river? Therefore, the lotus alone among the flowers can do this, which is extremely valuable. This is also the author's sigh, because in the big environment, it is impossible for him to be alone, except to escape and stay away. Or like him, who conscientiously guards his own integrity. Zhou Dunyi's "On Love of Lotus" begins with "Flowers of water, land, vegetation, and flowers, are the most lovely ones?" This is probably what I said.

Zhou Dunyi is the founder of Chinese Neo-Confucianism, and his Neo-Confucian thoughts have played a role in the history of Chinese philosophy as a link between the past and the future. Zhou Dunyi loved reading since he was a child and was quite famous in his hometown. People said that he had lofty ambitions, was knowledgeable and practiced, and had the style of the ancients. His knowledge and magnanimity inspired many people to study with him, the most famous of whom were the two brothers Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao, who later became famous Neo-Confucians of the Southern Song Dynasty.