淡掃蛾眉(She only lightly applied her
eyebrows.)
本部落格寫作緣起，原是為了向國際友人介紹中華文化。因此行文中，為求簡明易懂，例如將皇帝、王等傳統頭銜，統一簡化為國王，並盡量直稱其名。此為譯介之便，非為考據之疏。若您欲查閱嚴謹史料，請以文末所附典籍出處為準。
中國的唐王朝有一個著名的詩人，他的名字叫做張祜，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
張祜非常的有才華，他唸過很多書，他的知識很豐富，但是他不像其他的人一樣，想要透過科舉考試進入中央政府內工作，他不熱衷追求名聲與利益。
唐朝的第九任國王的名字叫做李隆基，他是一個非常偉大的國王，也是一個非常昏庸的國王，他統治唐王朝長達44年的時間。
李隆基剛繼任為國王的時候，他非常用心的管理整個巨大的唐王朝，他虛心地聽從很多忠誠的大臣的意見，唐王朝的國力一步一步到達顛峰。
李隆基領導唐王朝成為當時代最強大的帝國之後，李隆基的心態開始放鬆，他認為唐王朝會持續的繁榮下去，他開始每天舉辦宴會，他喝酒玩樂。
當時有一個楊姓的家庭，這個家庭中的幾個女兒都長得非常的漂亮，李隆基娶了其中一個姓楊的年輕女子成為自己的妃嬪，又給了這個家族中的所有人極高的社會地位和榮耀，
從李隆基開始放縱自己的慾望的這個時期開始，唐王朝開始走向衰落與戰亂。
張祜曾經寫過一首詩，這首詩中，他描繪了李隆基與這幾個楊姓女子之間的一些細節。這首詩的大概意思如下。
那位美麗的夫人受到國王的寵愛與恩待，天剛亮的時候，這位夫人就騎馬進入了巨大的皇宮。
這位夫人不喜歡人工的胭脂，她認為這些化妝品會玷污了自己的美麗的臉，這位夫人只輕輕淡淡地畫了眉毛就去見那位偉大的國王。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是她只輕輕淡淡地畫了眉毛。
這句成語被引申用來形容一個女子畫著淡雅且自然的妝。
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。
你喜歡淡雅還是濃烈的妝容呢?你如何評價李隆基這種到達人生高峰後就開始放縱情慾的行為呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為張祜-集靈臺之2
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E9%9B%86%E9%9D%88%E8%87%BA%E4%B9%8B%E4%BA%8C
出處為舊唐書-卷51-楊貴妃傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%88%8A%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B751
出處為唐才子傳-卷6
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%94%90%E6%89%8D%E5%AD%90%E5%82%B3/%E5%8D%B76
She only lightly applied her eyebrows.(淡掃蛾眉)
This blog was originally intended as an
introduction to Chinese culture for international friends. For the sake of
simplicity and ease of understanding, traditional titles such as 'emperor' and
'king' are simplified to 'King', and their names are used directly wherever
possible. This is for the convenience of translation, not historical accuracy.
If you wish to consult more rigorous historical materials, please refer to the
sources listed at the end of the article.
Zhang Hu was a famous poet from the Tang
dynasty in China, and history books record his story.
Zhang Hu was very talented. He was
well-read and knowledgeable, but, unlike others, he did not seek to enter the
central government through the imperial examinations. He was not keen on
pursuing fame and fortune.
The ninth emperor of the Tang dynasty was
Li Longji. He was a great king, but also an incompetent one. He ruled the Tang
dynasty for 44 years.
When he first ascended the throne, Li
Longji managed the vast Tang Dynasty diligently, humbly listening to the advice
of his loyal ministers. The Tang Dynasty's power gradually reached its zenith.
However, after leading the Tang Dynasty to
become the most powerful empire of its time, Li Longji became complacent.
Believing that the dynasty would continue to prosper, he started holding daily
banquets and indulging in drinking and revelry.
At that time, there was a family surnamed
Yang whose daughters were all exceptionally beautiful. Li Longji married one of
these young women as his concubine, bestowing extremely high social status and
honour upon the entire family.
However, from the moment Li Longji began to
indulge his desires, the Tang Dynasty began its decline into war.
Zhang Hu once wrote a poem depicting some
details of Li Longji's relationship with these women. The poem's gist is as
follows:
The beautiful lady, favoured and pampered
by the king, rode into the vast palace at dawn.
She disliked artificial rouge, believing
that such cosmetics would tarnish her beautiful face. Before meeting the great
king, she only lightly applied her eyebrows.
The idiom literally means that she only
lightly applied her eyebrows.
It is used to describe a woman with light
and natural make-up.
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
Do you prefer light or heavy make-up? What
do you think of Li Longji's behaviour in indulging in lust after reaching the
pinnacle of his life?
I hope this story has given you some new
insights.