The Metaphorical Function of Qu Yuan's Vanilla Beauty

The image of "vanilla beauty" is the basic image for Qu Yuan to express his feelings.

The most striking thing about Qu Yuan's Li Sao is its two images: beauty and vanilla. Created the symbolic technique of "vanilla beauty", which has a far-reaching influence on the creation of later generations.

Qu Yuan devoted his life to the pursuit of enlightened and democratic politics. However, it didn't work, so he had to use "vanilla beauty" to express his political views and his anguish. It is also the true display of Qu Yuan's noble quality, and Qu Yuan's conception and infinite yearning for his "ideal country".

The image of beauty is generally interpreted as a metaphor, or as a monarch, or as a self. The former is like "only the grass and trees are scattered, and the beauty is afraid of death", while the latter is like "many women are jealous of the beauty of Yu, so they say that Yu is a slut".

Li Sao is full of all kinds of herbs, which support and enrich the image of "beauty" as decoration. As a symbol, vanilla refers to the nobility of morality and personality on the one hand; On the other hand, it is opposite to evil grass and symbolizes both sides of political struggle. ?

Vanilla represents Qu Yuan's beautiful mind, his clean and honest life, his noble sentiments, and his determination to stick to his ideals and keep his personality innocent. Ancient literati, especially those in troubled times, are a kind of sorrow in themselves.

"Vanilla Beauty" is originally an attachment that yearns for beauty but cannot be realized. Therefore, Qu Yuan involuntarily showed a kind of "vanilla beauty" complex in frustration, and used "vanilla beauty" as a metaphor for his feelings and aspirations, which reflected his noble quality and elegant sentiment.

Extended data:

Qu Yuan's vanilla complex;

There are many names of herbs mentioned in Qu Yuan's works, such as orchid, hui, zhi, hibiscus, magnolia, Ficus pumila, spring, chrysanthemum and magnolia flower. All of them are Chu plants, and they are still widely grown in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the south of the Yangtze River.

Bluegrass: Chunlan, Qiu Lan, Youlan, Shi Lan, etc. All the herbs mentioned in Songs of the South are named according to their growing environment or seasons.

Hui: It is also a kind of vanilla, which is often juxtaposed with orchids, Ruo, Yi and other herbs, such as Lisao, Qiwei, Fuxi, evoking spirits, and turning to Hui by gentle wind. It is full of admiration for Lan and memory of the past, which means Hui but not Xiang.

Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Rhizoma Dioscoreae Septemlobae: They are all herbs that grow near Shui Ze. In Li Sao, it is said that "mix with each other", in Evocation, it is said that "apples are in full bloom and angelica dahurica is born", while in Nine Songs, it is said that "Yuan Youqing, Li Youlan".

Hibiscus: The hibiscus in Chu Ci refers to the lotus growing in water. In Lisao, it is said that "making lotus flowers for clothes and picking hibiscus for clothes" means "lotus leaves for clothes and lotus flowers for clothes". In "Nine Songs to the King", it is said that "Ficus pumila is picked in the water, and hibiscus is picked in the wood", and the hibiscus also refers to lotus.

Du Ruo and Du Heng: Both are vanilla. Li Sao said "Du Heng's local chronicles are miscellaneous", while Nine Songs said "Zhou Fang Xi Du Ruocai".

Mulan: This is a kind of fragrant wood. There is a phrase "Drink Mulan in the morning" in Lisao, which is still an ornamental tree.

Ficus pumila: Ficus pumila is a kind of herbaceous plant born on the edge of wood, which may have a fragrance. Scholars have different opinions on this.

Quan and Sun: They are all medicines. Some people think it is a plant like Acorus gramineus, but in Qu Yuan's works, it is often used to symbolize the king.

Songs of the South created the rhetoric of "vanilla beauty", so vanilla has symbolic significance besides the original meaning of nature. Use vanilla as a metaphor for loyal people, noble moral integrity and beautiful things.

Beautiful complex:

"Xiang Jun" and "Mrs. Xiang" in "Nine Songs" all refer to the God of Xiang Water.

Qu Yuan used beauty as a metaphor or as an ideal beauty policy.

Qu Yuan yearns for a saint like the husband of Shun Fei, and faithfully follows the footsteps of the monarch. Even if he is not appreciated by the monarch, he will not change his loyalty.

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