What does "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold" mean

"The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold" is a Chinese idiom; the full sentence is “The sharp edge of a sword comes from grinding, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold.” It does not come from an ancient poem, but from the Diligence chapter of *Jingshi Xianwen* (Wise Words to Warn the World), which collects and organizes folk sayings and aphorisms. Let us now take a look together at what "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold" means!

The origin of "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold"

If there are fields but they are not plowed, the granary will be empty; if there are books but they are not read, the descendants will be foolish. The sharp edge of a sword comes from grinding, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold. If one does not endure the hardship of diligent study in youth, one will only regret that it is too late to study when old. Books are only regretted as too few when put to use, and matters are only known to be difficult after being experienced. One must sit on a cold bench for ten years, and write not a single empty sentence in one's essays.

Translation of "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold"

If there are fields but they are not plowed, there will be no grain, and the granary will be empty; without grain to eat, life cannot go on. The sharp blade of a treasured sword is obtained from constant grinding, and the drifting fragrance of plum blossoms comes from having endured the cold winter. If one does not know to study diligently early in youth, one will probably regret when old and white-haired that it is too late to study. Knowledge always makes one feel it is far from enough only when it is put to use, and many things are not known to be difficult unless one has experienced them personally. Those who pursue scholarship must be patient, willingly sitting on a cold bench for ten years without complaint, and writing must be solid, without a single half-sentence of flashy empty talk or cliches.

The meaning of "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold"

The sharp blade of a treasured sword is formed through the constant grinding of the whetstone, and the reason plum blossoms have such a striking fragrance is that they do not fear the severe cold, surviving the winter by their tenacious vitality, while in winter all other flowers have withered, so only the blooming plum blossoms appear especially fragrant. If a person wants to achieve something in their career, they must be prepared to meet all kinds of difficult challenges, constantly enrich their experience in practice and improve their abilities, so as to reach the goal they long for. Without being tempered, or even failing, it is impossible to have smooth sailing and only want success; even if there is a temporary success, it will not last long.

What are the symbolic meanings of plum blossoms?

The plum blossom is a traditional famous flower of China. Not only has its elegant and refined demeanor won praise from poets and painters ancient and modern, but it is also respected by the world as the essence of the nation for its icy flesh and jade bones and its lingering fragrance in the cold. Throughout Chinese history there have been extremely many literati and people of aspiration who loved and praised plum blossoms; with their noble, strong and modest character, they inspire people to resolve and strive. In the severe cold, plum blossoms bloom before all other flowers, bringing spring to the world alone, and therefore the plum is often used by the folk as an auspicious symbol of heralding spring and announcing good news. Legends and stories about the plum and its beautiful implied meanings have spread far and wide in our country and are used extremely widely, symbolizing an unbending spirit, unyielding persistence, and happiness and good fortune. The plum blossom, which dares to battle frost and snow and is sparse, free and coldly beautiful, under the daubing of Confucian orthodox ideas, has become a awe-inspiring gentleman who keeps to the noble way, a resolute and heroic figure who fears no severe cold, and a brave warrior who startles the stubborn and rouses the cowardly.