剪梅-韋秀嫻 Winnie Wei – A Sprig of Plum Blossom (Sorrow of Separation)
This song was recorded for Winnie's Winter Love LP SCPAX358, and is also on her 1994 cd Legendary Chinese Hits Vol. 47.
It has quite a history, starting its life as a poem written by Li Qingzhao 李清照 of Jinan (March 13, 1084 - May 12, 1155) although it would also have been set to music as was the custom then. Li Qingzhao is regarded as the greatest female poet in Chinese History, and has a memorial hall in Baotu Spring Park, built in 1956. She was born into a family of scholars and officials. Her father was a student of Su Shi, and had a large collection of books. She was unusually outgoing and knowledgeable for a woman of noble birth. Before she married, her poetry was already well known within elite circles. In 1101 she married Zhao Mingcheng, with whom she shared interests in art collection and calligraphy. They lived in Shandong. Her husband was often absent on official business, but they were happy when together. This inspired some of her love poems.
In 1127, during the Jin–Song wars, fighting took place in Shandong and their house was burned. The couple fled to Nanjing, where they lived for a year. Zhao died of typhoid in 1129 en route to an official post. Poor Li Qingzhao never recovered, eventually settling in Hangzhou, where the Song government made its new capital. She continued writing poetry which tended to depict her misery and loneliness. Only around a hundred of her poems are known to survive, mostly in the ci form and tracing her varying fortunes in life – all can be read online. Also a few poems in the shi form have survived. Her life was full of twists and turns. During the early period, most of her poems were love poems, relating. After her move to the south, her poetry expressed her hatred of the war against the Jurchens and her patriotism. She is credited with the first detailed critique of the metrics of Chinese poetry. Li Ch'ing-Chao (crater) on planet Mercury and Li Qingzhao on planet Venus, are named after her. Li Qingzhao represents ancient Chinese women's pursuit of equality between men and women, care for the country and love for the motherland. She set a precedent for the creation of patriotism of female writers.
Here is Li Qingzhao's original poem in Mandarin and English Translation. Winnie's song covers the 2nd part of the poem – from The falling blossoms ... with very slight alterations by composer Yao Min.
红藕香残玉簟秋，轻解罗裳，独上兰舟。/ 云中谁寄锦书来？雁字回时，月满西楼 /
The lotus has wilted, only a faint fragrance remains - The jade mat hints of autumn chills - Gently, I unfasten my silk cloak, And step on board my orchid boat alone. / Who is sending a letter from beyond the clouds? When the wild geese return, the balcony will be flooded with moonlight. /
花自飘零水自流，一种相思，两处闲愁 /此情无计可消除，才下眉头，却上心头
The falling blossoms drift away, the water flows on - We have the same yearning of the heart, - But it resides in two places so far apart / There's no way to drive away this melancholy - Leaving the eyebrows, it surges to my heart
Here is the pinyin for the words Winnie sings: Huā zì piāolíng shuǐ zìliú, yīzhǒng xiāngsī, / liǎng chù jiān chóu, liǎng chù jiān chóu. / Cǐ qíng wú jì kě xiāochú, cái xià méitóu, / yòu shàng xīntóu, yòu shàng xīntóu
For details of Winnie Wei please see my notes on other uploads of hers.
The plum blossom is an important symbol in Chinese culture. As a “friend of winter,” the plum blossom vividly represents the value of endurance. The fragrance of plum blossoms “comes from the bitterness and coldness,” as the Chinese saying goes. The plum, together with the orchid ( purity) bamboo ( uprightness) and chrysanthemum ( humility), are the “four nobles” of plants according to the ancient Chinese. Zhu Xi gave the plum four virtues: great potential in the bud, prosperity in the flower, harmony in the fruit, and rightness in its maturity. The Chinese also see the five-petaled flower as symbolizing five blessings: longevity, prosperity, health, virtue, and good living
China, cities and villages - Home made documentary [Sub FR+EN]
My first documentary, recorded as well as I could, but only with my phone.
Mon premier documentaire, filmé aussi bien que possible, mais avec uniquement mon téléphone.