Liu Yuxi's poem, ostensibly a poem of poetry, praises the peony flower; in fact, it is a satirical poem, mocking the playthings of the powerful and the lost.
Treating this poem as a simple poem can be said to be Liu Yuxi's appreciation and love for peonies. In the first two sentences of the poem, the poet contrasts the peony with two other flowers. He said, "The peony in front of the court is unqualified", compared with the peony, the peony is too charming, charming, and appears to have no character; he also said, "The pond hibiscus is pure and less affectionate", and the hibiscus is too pure and does not seem affectionate enough.
Liu Yuxi wrote peony medicine "no grid", and fleur-de-lis "less affection", not writing peony and hibiscus, but writing peony. In contrast, it seems that the peony is "qualified" and "amorous".
In fact, peonies are exactly like this. When it comes to peonies, the most easily associated adjective is grace and luxury, and peony flowers are the flowers of wealth. Therefore, the peony flower is definitely more dignified and atmospheric, and it will not be too demonized like peony and cannot be on the table. On the other hand, the peony flower is also very bright and rich, and it will not look cold and cold like the hibiscus, that is, the lotus flower, and does not eat human fireworks.
It can be said that Liu Yuxi's "Peony Appreciation", the first two sentences do not write about peonies, but they have expressed the characteristics of peony flowers accurately and profoundly, which makes people have to admire.
In the last two sentences of this poem, "Only the peony is the true national color, and the flowers move the capital during the blossoming season", the poet is even more direct in his chest and expresses his praise and love for the peony without hesitation.
However, if combined with the historical background at that time, it can also be said that Liu Yuxi's poem is satirizing the peony flower.
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, his favorite concubine Yang Yuhuan was undoubtedly the peony flower among women, plump and graceful, and the national color tianxiang. Yang Yuhuan's posture and the pampering she received also caused a sensation throughout the capital. Her appearance even shook people's deep-rooted idea of "son preference over daughter", "so that the hearts of parents in the world will not be reborn as men and women." Her countenance, looking back at a smile of beauty, the six palaces of pink daisy colorless.
Once Yang Yuhuan, a woman who fell like a peony flower, appeared, she would naturally make those women such as peony and hibiscus lose their color. From then on, the emperor favored Yang Yuhuan exclusively, and the streets and alleys were also about Yang Guifei, and people were either envious, jealous, or worried.
Of course, the most worrying thing is some loyal subjects, because they know that since ancient times, the emperor's exclusive favor is not a good thing, in their eyes, Yang Yuhuan is the red face of the demon and the lord.
However, since this poem has been circulated for a long time and Liu Yuxi has died for a long time, it is worth exploring whether this poem praises or satirizes peony flowers.
However, now the main thing is that there are more praises, as long as it involves peony flowers, many people will come to a sentence when praising, only the peony is really national color, and the blossom season moves the capital. It can be seen from this that the last two verses of Liu Yuxi's poems are really famous sentences throughout the ages.
There are originally some sentences in ancient poems, and after a long time, people gradually forget its original meaning, but use its other meanings. For example, Yuan Shu's "Poor and Lowly Couples Pepsi Lament" was originally used to praise the feelings of poor and lowly couples, but now it is generally used to say that poor and lowly couples are not economically good, and it is easier to wear away the feelings between each other. Du Fu's "This song should only be heard in heaven, and how many times in the world can be heard" was originally used to satirize people who only know how to enjoy and listen to music, but now it is mostly used to praise beautiful music.
As for whether Liu Yuxi's poem is praise or satire, perhaps different people will have different views.