Drunkness is the appearance, happiness is the essence. A drunkard's intention is not in drinking, but in the mountains and rivers.

This sentence is a famous saying written by Ouyang Xiu, a writer in the Song Dynasty, in "The Drunkard Pavilion". It means that on the surface it looks like you are indulging in wine, but in fact you are enjoying the beautiful natural scenery.

The meaning of this sentence is actually to explore the attitude and essence of life. In Ouyang Xiu's description, drunkenness and happiness are not directly causal, but two aspects that are intertwined and influence each other. Zui, that is, intoxication, is the intoxication and appreciation of natural beauty, and is an emotional experience of nature. Le, that is, happiness, comes from inner satisfaction and love for life. This kind of happiness comes not only from the appreciation of beautiful scenery, but also from the positive response of people's inner world to the external environment.

The relationship between drunkenness and pleasure is actually an external-internal relationship. On the surface, a person may appear drunk because of excessive drinking, but in fact, on the inside, he may be enjoying a good time in harmony with nature. This experience includes both physical comfort and psychological satisfaction. It’s a positive attitude towards life, enjoying every moment of it, whether it may seem negative or positive on the surface.

The writing background of "The Drunkard's Pavilion":

1. The background of the times. At that time, the political situation in the Northern Song Dynasty was very unstable, and various social contradictions were gradually exposed. At the same time, due to increased taxation, military expansion and other reasons, the financial situation is deteriorating day by day, and people's lives are very difficult.

2. Personal background. Ouyang Xiu had extremely high attainments in literature and politics, but he was repeatedly excluded and demoted in the officialdom at that time. He was once demoted to Huangzhou because of the "Wutai Poetry Case", and later was demoted to Chuzhou because of disagreements with those in power.

3. Creative opportunities. When Ouyang Xiu was in Chuzhou, he often visited the local mountains and rivers with his friends and appreciated the natural scenery. After being drunk once, he wrote this masterpiece "The Drunkard Pavilion". It can be said that this article is a kind of spiritual sustenance and self-catharsis for him in adversity.