A neat, clean and dazzling full suit.(衣裳楚楚)
The Book of Songs is the earliest known
collection of Chinese poetry.
It contains 305 poems.
These were written over a period of 500
years, from the 11th to the 6th century BC.
The poems fall into three main categories.
The first category comprises folk poetry
from various parts of China at that time.
The second category comprises poetry from
the Zhou dynasty, which ruled China during this period.
The third category comprises poetry used in
sacrificial ceremonies by the royal family and nobles of the Zhou dynasty.
One folk poem in particular describes the
confusion and reflections on life and death that arise from observing the
mayfly, an insect with an extremely short lifespan.
The poem's general meaning is as follows:
When a mayfly spreads its wings, it
resembles a person dressed in a neat, clean and dazzling suit.
Seeing a mayfly always reminds me of the
brevity of life and fills me with sadness. I don't know how I will face the end
of my life.
When a mayfly spreads its wings, it
resembles a person wearing brightly coloured, sleek clothing.
Seeing a mayfly always reminds me of the
brevity of life and fills my heart with sadness. I wonder where I will end up
after death.
When a newborn mayfly emerges from the
ground, it resembles a person wearing snow-white linen clothing.
Seeing a mayfly always reminds me of the
brevity of life and fills me with sadness. I wonder where my ultimate
destination lies.
This idiom literally means a neat, clean
and dazzling full suit.
It is often used to describe someone
dressed in a very formal and elegant manner.
Dear friends, what insights or thoughts
have you gained from this story?
Have you ever pondered the end of life?
Where do you think we go after death?
I hope this story will provide you with
some new insights.
衣裳楚楚(A neat, clean and dazzling full suit.)
(詩經)是中國最早的詩歌合輯。
這本書中有305首詩。
這些詩寫的時間橫跨500年，從西元前11世紀到西元前6世紀。
這些詩的內容主要分為三類。
第一類是當時中國各地的民間詩歌
第二類是當時統治中國的周王朝的詩歌。
第三類是周王朝中的王室與貴族祭祀用的詩歌。
其中有一首當時的民間詩歌，這首詩歌中描寫了人們在看到蜉蝣這種生命極其短暫的昆蟲後，所引發的對於生命與死亡相關的許多困惑與思考。
這首詩的大概意思如下。
蜉蝣展開它的翅膀，它就像是一個人穿著整齊乾淨且亮眼的全套禮服。
看到蜉蝣的時候總會讓我感受到生命如此短暫，我的心中感到憂傷，我不知道我該如何面對生命的終局。
蜉蝣展開它的翅膀，它就像是一個人穿著顏色鮮艷且質料光滑的衣服。
看到蜉蝣的時候總會讓我感受到生命如此短暫，我的心中感到憂傷，我不知道我死後將會到那裡去。
初生的蜉蝣破土而出，它就像是一個人穿著雪白的麻質的衣服。
看到蜉蝣的時候總會讓我感受到生命如此短暫，我的心中感到憂傷、我不知道要到那裡去找我生命最終的歸宿。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是整齊乾淨且亮眼的全套禮服。
這句成語通常被用來形容一個人的穿著非常的正式與高雅。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你曾經思考過人生的結局嗎?你認為人死後會到那裡去呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為詩經-國風-曹風-蜉蝣
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E8%A9%A9%E7%B6%93/%E8%9C%89%E8%9D%A3