離愁:悟桐

Complex of Love

In Chinese mythology, Phoenix (pronounced as 「Fenghuang」 in Putonghua) appears in the world of mortals once every 500 years.  Chinese Parasol (Firmiana simplex) is its only habitat.  In the past, Chinese Parasol was the preferred planting choice in gardens of Chinese nobles and got an appellation of 「wood of Phoenix」.  Phoenix is actually referring to one male and one female (Feng is male and Huang is female), so is Chinese Parasol.

Seeing more of the Chinese parasol makes it hold certain status in poetry.  Raindrops falling on the Chinese Parasol leaves were metaphorically described by wits and beauties as the tone of lonesome, adding more sentimental elements.

李清照之聲聲慢．．．
尋尋覓覓，冷冷清清，淒淒慘慘慼慼！乍暖還寒時候，最難將息。三杯兩盞淡酒，怎敵他晚來風急！雁過也，正傷心，卻是舊時相識。滿地黃花堆積，憔悴損，如今有誰堪摘？守著窗兒，獨自怎生得黑！梧桐更兼細雨，到黃昏、點點滴滴。這次第，怎一個愁字了得！

梧桐加細雨是愁．

「Murmurings」 by Li Qingzhao ……

Seeking lost memories,
I'm lonely and cold
And heavy with woe.
Warm one moment and chilly the next,
I try to sleep but fail.
Two or three cups of water-like wine -
What use in an evening gale?
A wild goose heads south in the sky above
And the sight just breaks my heart
- For isn't this he who once carried a letter
To the man whom I lost but still love? 

Yellow chrysanthemums litter the ground -
Old, withered, and worn,
Who would pick them now?
I sit by the window, all forlorn;
How long 'till the sun goes down?
At dusk, rain falls on the parasol tree
Then drizzles and drips from each leaf.
How could one word like 'sorrow' express
All this hopelessness and grief? 

Parasol + rain = melancholy

李煜(李後主)之相見歡．．．
無言獨上西樓，月如鉤，寂寞梧桐深夜鎖清秋．剪不斷，理還亂，是離愁，別是一般滋味在心頭．

梧桐加深夜是離愁．

「Joy of Meeting」 by Li Yu . . .

Without words, I mount alone the western chamber;

The moon like a hook,

The parasol trees are solitary,

A clear autumn locked up in the deep courtyard. 

Sundering to no avail, disentangling into disarray;

A sorrow of parting -

A strange taste that lingers in the heart.

Parasol + early hours = parting sorrow

古時樂師從燃燒中的梧桐悟出此木材是製造琴瑟的良材．

梧桐在公園內並不多見，印象中只有香港維多利亞公園和寨城公園有種植．至於私人庭園白蘭才是庭主的愛好．如果真的如傳說中鳳凰500年出現凡間一次，香港人便要走寶了．

如果你選擇一棵庭園樹木，我會建議種植梧桐．梧桐是中國古有樹種，有祥鳥鳳凰的傳說，在中國詩詞中又佔有重要地位．在梧桐樹下，你可以吟詩作對，引經據點，附庸風雅，相信羨煞多少旁人．

In ancient times, musicians came to realize that the wood from burning Chinese Parasol log made good timber for zither-like plucked musical instruments.

Chinese Parasol is rare in parks.  I can only remember seeing them in Hong Kong Victoria Park and Kowloon Walled City Park.  In private gardens, White Jade Orchid tree (Michelia x alba) is preferred by most owners.  If, the legend of phoenix appears in the mortal world every 500 years, then Hong Kong people surely miss the chance.

If you choose a tree for your garden, I would recommend Chinese Parasol.  It has been a species of ancient China.  There is the legend of the auspicious Phoenix and it has played an important role in poetry. Under the parasol, you can recite poems and create couplets; quote the classics; and being arty.  I trust others will envy you.  

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