What does the poem Cold Food depict?

The first two sentences of the poem "Cold Food" describe the scenery during the day, the charming spring scenery and the scenery in the court garden where the catkins are flying and falling red in Chang 'an. The last two sentences are about the night scene, which vividly draws a picture of candles at night, making people see the light of candles and smell the faint smoke.

The original poem of cold food

In late spring, Chang 'an city is full of songs and dances, and countless flowers fall. The east wind of the Cold Food Festival blows on the willow trees in the royal garden.

At dusk, the Han officials issued candles, and light smoke was scattered into the Wuhou mansion.

translate

In Chang 'an in late spring, catkins are flying all over the sky, and the east wind blows the willow branches in the imperial garden at the Cold Food Festival. As night falls, the palace is busy distributing candles, and the light smoke from lighting candles is scattered into the homes of princes and nobles.

Creation background

In the Tang Dynasty, on Qingming Day, the emperor announced that he would reward his nearest minister with the fire of elm willow. This ceremony has two purposes: first, it marks the end of the Cold Food Festival, and fire can be used; The second is to remind courtiers and officials, so that everyone can learn from mesons who have made meritorious deeds. After the mid-Tang Dynasty, several bad emperors favored eunuchs, so that they were in power, corrupted the state affairs and crowded out courtiers. Some people think that this poem was written for this purpose.