The ability to describe snowflakes using
the fuzz on willow seeds(詠絮之才)
In China's Jin Dynasty, there was a famous
poet and writer whose name was Xie Daoyuan. There is a story about her recorded
in history books.
There were several famous families in the
Jin Dynasty. Among these families, the most powerful and famous were the Wang
family and the Xie family. Xie Daoyuan was a member of the Xie family.
She showed amazing intelligence at a very
young age.
Once at a family gathering, everyone was
chatting away.
It was winter, and suddenly snow began to
fall from the sky.
The snow fell fast and hard, and soon the
whole ground was covered with a thick layer of snow.
Her uncle said to all the children in the
family.
If I asked you to write an essay, what
metaphor would you use to describe such a heavy snowfall?
One of the little boys replied.
I think white snow reminds me of white
salt. So I would describe a heavy snowfall as throwing a handful of white salt
into the sky.
After hearing the little boy's answer,
everyone thought he was very clever and quick-witted, and they all praised him.
But Xie Daoyuan was smiling, and her uncle
asked her.
Why are you laughing? Do you have a better
metaphor for a heavy snowfall?
Xie Daoyuan nodded and said.
This heavy snow reminded me of the white
fluff on the seeds of willow catkins. In the spring, this white fluff will be
blown away by the wind and the whole sky will turn white.
This heavy snow gave me such a feeling that
I thought the fuzz on the willow seeds was a better metaphor for snow than
salt.
After Xie Daoyuan said this, everyone
shouted in admiration.
This metaphor is great. It not only shows
the white colour of snow, but also expresses the light and fluttering feeling
of falling snowflakes.
The literal translation of this idiom is to
use the fluff on willow seeds to describe the talent of snowflakes.
It is used to describe a woman with great
literary talent.
Dear friends, what are your feelings or
thoughts after listening to this story?
If it were you, how would you describe the
heavy snow? Have you ever carefully observed some things and materials around
you?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
詠絮之才(The ability to describe snowflakes
using the fuzz on willow seeds)
中國的晉王朝有一個著名的女性的詩人與文學家，她的名字叫做謝道韞。歷史書上記載了一個她的故事。
晉王朝有幾個著名的家族，這幾個家族中勢力最大而且名人最多的就是王氏家族與謝氏家族。謝道韞就是謝氏家族的一個成員。
她在年紀很小的時候就展現出驚人的聰明。
有一次，在一場家族聚會上，大家聊天聊得很開心。
那時候是冬天，突然天上開始飄下白雪。
白雪下得很快又很大，沒多久的時間整個大地就鋪上了一層厚厚的雪
她的叔叔就對家族中的所有的小孩說。
如果我要你們寫一篇文章，你們會用怎樣的比喻來形容這樣一陣大雪呢?
其中有一個小男孩就回答。
我覺得白色的雪讓我聯想到白色的鹽。因此我會用向天空中撒出一大把白色的鹽來形容一陣大雪。
聽完這個小男孩的話後大家都覺得這個小男孩很聰明而且反應很快，所有人都對這個小男孩表示讚美。
但是謝道韞卻笑了，她的叔叔就問她。
你為何笑呢?莫非你有更好的形容一陣大雪的比喻嗎?
謝道韞點點頭後說。
這陣大雪讓我聯想到柳絮的種子上面會有白色的絨毛，春天的時候這些白色的絨毛隨著風被吹散，整個天空會變成白色的一片。
這陣大雪帶給我這樣的感覺所以我覺得柳樹的種子上的絨毛比鹽更適合用來比喻白雪。
謝道韞說完這句話後，所有人都讚嘆地說。
這個比喻太好了，不但表現出雪的白色，而且把雪花落下時那種輕飄飄的感覺也表達出來。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思用柳樹的種子上的絨毛來形容雪花的才能。
這句成語被用來形容一個有著高超的文學才能的女子。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
如果是你，你會用甚麼東西來形容大雪呢?你曾經細心的觀察過你身邊的一些東西與物質嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-列傳66-列女傳-謝道韞