Vẽ Phù dung
Definition
- Noun Phrase (Literary/Idiomatic):
- "Painting/Depicting the Hibiscus": A classical literary allusion and idiom describing a beauty as radiant and exquisite as a hibiscus flower in bloom. It originates from the poetic description of Yang Guifei's beauty in Bai Juyi's "Song of Everlasting Sorrow."
- A metaphor for showcasing or praising supreme beauty: It signifies presenting or extolling a beauty (often a woman's) that is peerless, delicate, and captivating, akin to the admired hibiscus (Phù dung).
Usage Examples
- Noun Phrase:
- Trong thơ cổ, miêu tả một mỹ nhân, người ta thường dùng hình ảnh "vẽ phù dung". (In ancient poetry, to describe a great beauty, people often used the image of "painting the hibiscus.")
- Sắc đẹp của nàng khiến thi nhân muốn "vẽ phù dung" để lưu danh mãi mãi. (Her beauty made the poet want to "depict the hibiscus" to immortalize her fame forever.)
Advanced Usage
- This phrase is almost exclusively used in a literary, poetic, or highly stylized context. It is not used in everyday conversation but appears in classical poetry, scholarly analysis, or artistic descriptions to evoke a sense of classical, refined beauty.
Variants and Related Words
- Phù dung (n): Hibiscus mutabilis, the specific flower (cotton rose hibiscus) referenced in the idiom, symbolizing delicate beauty that changes.
- "Phù dung như diện liễu như my" (Idiomatic Quote): "The hibiscus is like her face, the willow is like her eyebrows." This is the original line from Bai Juyi's poem that is the source of the allusion.
Synonyms
- To depict peerless beauty: To portray or describe beauty that is unmatched.
- To praise exquisite beauty: To extol a delicate and magnificent beauty.
Related Idioms and Allusions
- "Phù dung như diện": Literally "hibiscus-like face," a direct metaphor for a beautiful face.
- The entire concept is tied to the "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" (Trường hận ca), where the poet Bai Juyi uses the hibiscus flower to immortalize the beauty of Yang Guifei, a famous imperial consort. Thus, "vẽ phù dung" carries the connotation of eternally capturing such legendary beauty in art or verse.