Fading Spring as Falling Dynasty | Generated by AI
Question: In Xin Qiji’s poem “Mo Yu Er” (How much more wind and rain can it endure), what is the symbolic meaning of the “fading spring” scenery?
Answer: In Xin Qiji’s poem Mo Yu Er (How much more wind and rain can it endure), the “fading spring” (残春) symbolizes the precarious and crumbling political situation of the Southern Song Dynasty (Option C).
While the poem describes falling petals and the end of the season, these images serve as a powerful political allegory. Here is the breakdown of why this is the correct interpretation:
1. Metaphor for National Decline
The opening lines, “How much more wind and rain can it endure? Hurriedly, Spring departs once more,” use the “wind and rain” to represent both external threats (invasions) and internal political strife. The departure of Spring represents the fading glory and diminishing territory of the Song Empire.
2. Political Critique
Xin Qiji uses specific imagery to mirror the state of the court:
- The “Jealousy of Beauty”: By referencing historical figures like Empress Chen who lost favor due to slander, Xin Qiji alludes to how loyal officials (like himself) were being sidelined by treacherous ministers.
- The Fallen Petals: These represent the lost opportunities for national recovery and the destruction of talented individuals by the “wind and rain” of court politics.
3. Why Other Options are Incorrect
- A (Lonely Old Age): While Xin Qiji was older when he wrote this, his primary concern was always the fate of the nation rather than personal solitude.
- B (Persecution by Villains): Slander from petty officials is mentioned in the poem, but it is the cause of the decline, whereas the “fading spring” is the symbol of the overall national state.
- D (Unfulfilled Ambitions): This is a secondary theme (his personal grief), but the central symbolic weight of the “dying season” in Song Dynasty poetry almost always points to the fragility of the Dynasty itself.
Summary: To Xin Qiji, a staunch advocate for reclaiming lost northern territories, the end of Spring was not just a seasonal change; it was a heartbreaking parallel to a kingdom that was losing its vitality and heading toward collapse.
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