Baike was highly informative about the dew metaphor; will not repeat the previous comment here.
The historical background is that this is a poem that feudal vassals used to praise the Zhou emperor in the early years of the Western Zhou dynasty when the country prospered. It's all very happy and praising the emperor [which I guess makes sense if this is intended to be presented to him?]
The southernwood (mugwort in the Baike gloss) is the feudal vassals/princes, the dew is the emperor's grace. The mugwort is also used for sacrificial offerings.
Baike also comments that this is an elegant poem in content and form. Since it was given to the emperor, it must be reserved and cautious. Compared to the healthy and vivacious folk poems that express true feelings, its artistic merits and feelings are lacking.
[x_los, I think the Baike article agrees with you about this set of poems being less fun lol]
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: 173. 蓼蕭 - Liao Xiao
Date: 2021-04-04 04:24 pm (UTC)The historical background is that this is a poem that feudal vassals used to praise the Zhou emperor in the early years of the Western Zhou dynasty when the country prospered. It's all very happy and praising the emperor [which I guess makes sense if this is intended to be presented to him?]
The southernwood (mugwort in the Baike gloss) is the feudal vassals/princes, the dew is the emperor's grace. The mugwort is also used for sacrificial offerings.
Baike also comments that this is an elegant poem in content and form. Since it was given to the emperor, it must be reserved and cautious. Compared to the healthy and vivacious folk poems that express true feelings, its artistic merits and feelings are lacking.
[