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 proverb, and the full sentence is “The sharp edge of a treasured sword comes from grinding, the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold.” It does not come from an ancient poem; it comes from the Diligence chapter of Jingshi Xianwen. Jingshi Xianwen is a collection and arrangement of folk sayings and maxims. Now let us take a look together at what "the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold" means!
The source of "the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold"
If there is farmland but it is 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 treasured sword comes from grinding; the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold. If one does not endure the hardship of diligent study in youth, in old age one will regret that it is too late to study. Knowledge is always felt to be too little only when it is put to use; many things are known to be difficult only after one has gone through them. One who pursues scholarship must sit patiently on a cold bench for ten years, and when writing articles one must not write a single empty sentence.
Translation of "the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold"
If there is farmland but it is not plowed, there will be no grain, the granary will be empty, and without grain to eat, life will be impossible to continue. The sharp blade of a treasured sword is obtained through 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, I fear that by old age with white hair one will regret that it is too late to study. Knowledge always makes people feel far from enough only when it is being used, and many things are not known to be difficult unless one has experienced them personally. A person engaged in scholarship must be patient and willingly sit on a cold bench for ten years without complaint, and when writing articles must be substantial and must not have even half a sentence of flowery 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 are so fragrant is that they do not fear severe cold and, with tenacious vitality, enable themselves to survive the winter, while by winter all other flowers have withered, and only the plum blossoms blooming stand out as 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, in order to reach the goal they yearn for. Without being tempered, or even failing, it is impossible to want only success and have everything go smoothly; even if there is 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 bearing won praise from ancient and modern poets and painters, but with its icy flesh and jade bones and its fragrance retained through the cold, it is also regarded as the essence of the nation and respected by the world. Through the ages in China, there have been very many men of letters and people of aspiration who loved and praised the plum blossom; with its noble, strong, and modest character, it gives people encouragement to resolve and strive. In severe cold, the 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 announcing spring and reporting good fortune. Legends and stories about the plum and its beautiful implied meanings have spread far and wide in our country and are applied extremely widely. It symbolizes an unyielding spirit, unyielding perseverance, and happiness and good fortune. The plum blossom, which dares to fight frost and snow and is sparse, free, cold, and gorgeously restrained, under the coloring of Confucian orthodox concepts, has become a awe-inspiring gentleman who is noble and keeps the Way, a resolute and outstanding hero who does not fear severe cold, and a brave fighter who startles the stubborn and rouses the timid.