What kind of flower does the yellow flower in the yellow flower girl refer to, and why is it not other flowers?
During the turbulent period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the great story of the princess and the plum blossom branch took place in the deep palace. She is Princess Shouyang, the daughter of Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty. When a trace of plum blossoms was accidentally left on her delicate forehead, the princess's beautiful and moving face seemed to wink at the plum blossoms a few times. It came out of nowhere"Plum blossom makeup"inadvertently triggered a folk imitation trend, created"The Yellow Flower Girl"This is a name that has been passed down to this day.
Why is the beautiful and charming Princess Shouyang so different? How do plum blossoms leave their mark? Why people used it later"The Yellow Flower Girl"To call the unmarried girl, this one"Yellow flower"What kind of symbolism does it convey in the end?
Princess Shouyang - a bright pearl in the depths of the court.
The Liu Song Dynasty was under the rule of Liu Yu, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and the country was peaceful and the people were rich and strong. This Ming Jun has won the hearts of the people, and even his youngest daughter, Princess Shouyang, is deeply loved by the people. Princess Shouyang is naturally beautiful, she is the pearl of the palace, and she shines in the eyes of the people.
Both Emperor Wu of Han and Empress were full of praise for this beautiful and intelligent little princess, and although she was still a child, she had already begun to show extraordinary abilities and talents. Perhaps it was the care of his parents that made Shouyang develop a cheerful and generous personality. She is smart and beautiful, and is deeply loved by the concubines and maids in the palace.
Although Shouyang is a princess, she does not have the etiquette of a princess, she is outspoken and gets along well with the palace maids. They often frolic on fairytale stages, intertwined with multicolored threads, commenting on exotic flowers and plants from the Far South. Shouyang also often asked the palace ladies to help her try new cosmetics. She is naturally beautiful, with beautiful lines, and is very charming no matter what color she wears.
In their eyes, Shouyang is a lively and lovely princess in the palace, always childlike and cute. They are happy to serve Shouyang and enjoy spending time with her every afternoon.
That year, Shouyang was 15 years old. It was a season of blooming flowers, and plum blossoms filled the palace. One day, Shouyang played with the palace maids for a while, and his thighs hurt a little, so he lay down under the triangular corridor of the Huanzhang Hall to rest. This is one of his favorite places, the triangular promenade is curving and overgrown with evergreen vines, and it is the most gorgeous view of the palace. He lay quietly, letting the breeze caress the hair on his forehead.
At the same time, a warm spring breeze blew off the plum blossoms. Just at this moment, a few delicate plum blossom petals fell silently and stopped on Shouyang, whose forehead was soaked with sweat.
The maids gently praised Shouyang's beauty:"Looking at this wax, I can't help but kiss the princess's forehead. What a natural beauty! "Shouyang woke up slowly, opened his misty eyes, and a faint petal appeared on his smooth forehead, which was a little charming and moving.
At the same time, the queen heard the news, and she came to see her daughter's new"Makeup"Praise. She smiled lightly, and there seemed to be a thousand words in her eyes:"Good child, may they remain on your forehead, it is the grace of God. "So, the queen allowed him to keep this miracle gift of nature - a faint trace of plum blossoms. Although it is only a fleeting scene, behind the princess's success is a subtle figure, a legend that will last for centuries.
Princess Shouyang pioneered"Flower yellow"The style of dressing has laid the foundation for beauty makeup.
Since then, Shouyang often chooses plum petals to stick on his forehead, and there is a feeling of fairy wind bones. Even the ladies of the palace began to follow suit, offering plum blossom makeup to show people their charm and attractiveness. This one in Shouyang"Accidental invention"It became the most popular beauty fashion at that time, and almost everyone in the palace wore sticky plum glasses.
When the plum blossoms are not in full bloom, people make flowers of different shapes from carefully prepared yellow mica sheets, gold powder, and cream, and stick them to the forehead and cheeks, reflecting the beauty of ancient court women. This technique of decorating the face with ** material was later abbreviated"Flower yellow", which was loved by women at the time.
In the boudoir of a courtesan, or in front of the door of a young soldier's daughter, look in the mirror with mica powder or gold dust and apply a few flowers on your face"Imitation plum blossoms"to create the most glamorous brilliance.
The little golden flowers on their faces became a symbol of their youth and beauty. This cosmetic inadvertently invented by Princess Shouyang actually laid the foundation for beauty makeup for thousands of years.
This trend also extended to the civil court. Court ladies such as Princess Shouyang were allowed to dress as they pleased, while ordinary women had to observe more etiquette and could only wear them on their wedding nights, hoping to gain the favor of their husbands. On this important night, they would imitate the dress of the court ladies and put beauty made of mica or gold dust on their faces"Plum blossoms", hoping to attract the groom's attention.
This ornament used by ancient women to stick to their foreheads became a symbol of court women's clothing in the Song Dynasty. This kind of makeup, which originated from the occasional remnants of a few plum petals on Princess Shouyang's forehead, still has a unique charm after more than 100 years of changes. Why will it be used in the Hereafter?"The Yellow Flower Girl"To describe the unmarried woman of the old days? What is its origin?
The deep meaning of the poem "The Yellow Flower Girl": from the yellow hair on her head to the chrysanthemum that symbolizes purity.
The Yellow Flower Girl"."Yellow flower"There are various explanations. Originally, it originated from the faint plum blossom traces left by the colored wax petals on Princess Shouyang's forehead. Because the traces of plum blossoms are pale yellow, and Princess Shouyang is unmarried, later generations will use it"The Yellow Flower Girl"to describe an unmarried woman.
In addition,"Yellow flower"The word has other profound meanings. The old proverb says:"Yellow hair is a symbol of youth and joy"。Black hair is often a symbol of teenage girl's youth. After the age of 20, a girl's hair will gradually turn gray. The Story of the Peach Garden" reads:"White hair hangs down to women, and women are happy with white hair"。The shiny hair on the forehead is the sign of a maiden in the palace.
In addition,"Yellow flower"It is believed to represent the chrysanthemum, a symbol of purity and elegance. In ancient times, women attached great importance to chastity, so unchastity before marriage was severely punished. Therefore, the chrysanthemum is a very pure, restrained flower, and in the eyes of ancient women, it is the embodiment of premarital purity. Chrysanthemums are elegant and delicate, like a girl in a deep boudoir, noble and confident.
Daylily also refers to fresh and lush daylily, which symbolizes the vitality of life. In ancient feudal society, it was the mission of women to have many children and grandchildren, therefore"Daylily"The name also reflects this expectation. It represents the potential and vitality of a young woman's ability to conceive life, and is a beautiful celebration of women's fertility.
There is another, more specific term"Yellow flower", which refers to the natural fine hair on the forehead of a white-haired girl. The yellowish color of the hair and the fact that the girl has not yet married describes her gentleness. Her smooth forehead was scattered with soft, velvety hair, like strands of flowers blooming at the same time.
It can be seen that no matter what is right"Yellow flower"How to explain,"The Yellow Flower Girl"The concept itself suggests that chastity was essential to women in ancient times. It was a natural moral code for women to remain chaste before marriage, as wives and mothers were responsible for raising their children throughout their lives. Whether it's plum makeup on the face or yellow hair on the forehead,"Yellow-haired girl"The cultural connotations are all the same.
Now that society is enlightened and men and women have equal rights, women are no longer seen as they used to be and no longer have to endure such strict expectations. Chastity"The term remains, but its connotations are no longer as harsh as they once were. Women are valued more for their natural worth and pursuit of true happiness than for their purity.
Princess Shouyang stroked the plum blossom wax pattern, causing a sensation in the crowd, but she herself did not realize that she was just a childish 15-year-old girl. A childish woman, but unconsciously led a trend of fashion and beauty, this legend makes future generations can't help but admire the natural beauty of this woman.
This plum blossom mark is actually a very inconspicuous residual leaf, but it hung on Shouyang's forehead because of a smile in his eyes. When later generations of literati reminisce about this legend, they will regret - how can we pay attention to so many stories and details in life? How do we know that an ordinary thing can become the beginning of a legend?
The iconic plum blossom mark on her forehead seems to remind future generations that it's not too much to expect women to no longer be like themselves. They are born more beautiful and moving, and they deserve to be loved by the world, just like Princess Shouyang.
No matter how things change, a woman's face and taste will always be the same - because a simple break can make their beauty legendary, like the mark of a plum blossom.