Spring Rain in Lacquer Garden

Spring Rain in Lacquer Garden

During the Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn, and the Warring States periods, Mengcheng was known as “Lacquer Garden.” In the first year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, it was renamed “Mengcheng.” The former site of Lacquer Garden is located about two li northeast of the present city, on the north bank of the Guo River, northwest of Jianglou Village and west of Liuzhai Village. Nestled against Liangtushan Mountain to the north and facing the waters of the Guo River to the south, the area features lush forests, elegant bamboo groves, fertile plains, strong cattle and sheep, and diligent farmers. When spring returns to the earth, it is truly a scene of blooming flowers and verdant willows, with bursts of fragrance, birdsong, and fluttering butterflies — a delightful landscape. In the early morning, mist shrouds the land, bringing fresh humidity. During droughts, the crops here remain green and lush, unaffected by dryness. The hazy spring rain, like smoke and mist, nourishes countless blossoms and grasses, while sunlight filters through the fog, illuminating the land along the Guo River. Especially enchanting are the misty spring rains and the farmers plowing their fields in the outskirts, adding even more charm to the ancient city of Lacquer Garden. Thus, poets and scholars who visit are all full of praise. The Qing Dynasty poet Zheng Shiyin wrote: “The plow has just begun, yet spring has already melted the land; stream water veiled in mist ripples with the drizzle. The deepest beauty lies deep within the garden, where new greens blend evenly with red wildflowers.” Poet Yu Dazhong also described it in his verse: “The ancient site lies north of the river, the new shrine built east of the town. Rain swells the fresh green, blossoms bloom red on old branches.” He Yuming wrote: “A lonely, desolate city by the Guo River’s bend, timeless spirit lingers through the ages. The hazy mist weaves through time, the drizzling rain paints the daylight scene. Flowers anticipate spring’s arrival, butterflies sense it early; willows seem to bloom from the mist, nature’s artistry boundless. Freedom is found everywhere, as if immortals roam, following the deep clouds near the field-working folk.”