A shallow look at the Herb Culture(香草文化) in the West:The Emotion Expression Use of Herbs - Versio...
There is no denying that herbs have been important symbols and are regularly used in Chinese classic culture. The Song of the South， which is also called Chuci《楚辞》，is an excellent work in which various herbs are mentioned as tools to express the poets' emotions and ambitions(情志). For example, in LiSao, the poet Qu, is pretty fond of applying pure herbs as a self-comparison(自比).
Here are several sentences from LiSao:
Having from birth in this inward beauty,
I added to it far outward adorment;
纷吾既有此内美兮，又重之以修能。
I dressed in selinea and shady angelica,
and twined autumn orchids to make a garland.
扈江离与辟芷兮，纫秋兰以为佩。
A shallow look at the Herb Culture(香草文化) in the West:The Emotion Expression Use of Herbs - Versio...
Hawkes, David (1985). The Songs of the South: An Anthology of Ancient Chinese Poems by Qu Yuan and Other Poets. Penguin Books.
Similar to the East, herbs are also frequently seen in the litera work in the West.
A famous song goes like this:
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?您要去斯卡波罗集市吗？
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.香芹，鼠尾草，迷迭香。
There is no obvious emotion expression in the two sentences and it is more like a narration about a particular occasion. However, it is worth mentioning that, the two herbs, rosemary and thyme are put together, forming a rhythmical phrase“rosemary and thyme”.
Are they meeting each by chance in this ancient folk song?
Maybe？
The Scarborough Fair dates back to a very early age in England while here comes another song from a contemporary American singer Lana del Rey, which goes like:
Darlin', darlin', darlin'
亲爱的 亲爱的 亲爱的
I fall to pieces when I'm with you, I fall to pieces
每当与你相伴 我的灵魂便支离破碎 我的心片片凋零
My cherries and wine, rosemary and thyme
我的樱桃美酒 迷迭香和百里草
And all of my peaches are ruined
还有我所有蜜桃 都已毁灭
Cherry-Lana Del Rey
It is hard to say whether Lana draws any inspiration from that song or not, but the re-appearing of “rosymary and time” can help to prove that it is not a accident for rosymary and thyme, the two different herbs, to encounter with each other.
So why the two herbs are also used together in this modern work?
The rhythmical sense always plays an important role in poem-like literal work analysis such the lyrics.
Although the rhythmical consideration does make a difference to the writting process ,what really counts is the function of emotion expression of the mentioned herbs.
First of all, we should be aware of the symbilism meaning of them.
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.
Definition of Symbolism
Thyme is a symbol of strength and courage and it is an herb whose story weaves throughout human history.
A shallow look at the Herb Culture(香草文化) in the West:The Emotion Expression Use of Herbs - Versio...
The symbol of thyme
In ancient times rosemary was believed to strengthen the memory; in literature and folklore it is an emblem of remembrance and fidelity.
A shallow look at the Herb Culture(香草文化) in the West:The Emotion Expression Use of Herbs - Versio...
The symbol of rosemary
According to the explanations above,most of the symbolism meanings come from people's daily life expericences when they directly deal with the qualities of herbs.
In the song Cherry, the song writter focus on the questions about what is real love and the feeling of being love and having a lover which seems wrong.
It is interesting that in the former part, the songwriter manages to express her desire for love but there comes a turning point which describes the heartbroken feeling of being with her “darling” and at this moment two herbs as well as the cheeries and wine are introduced in.
So it is obvious that the two herbs act as something beyond what their physical quality is.
Then, it is necessary to concentrate on the lyrics itself.
At the begging of the turning point, the echo of “darling” confuses the listener that it might be a good relationship.
However, here comes sentences which are not describing the joy.
“I fall to pieces” lays down the basis of the confession. It indicates a downward trend of emotion and a destruction outcome, which could be embodied in different aspects. The most directly influence can be the loss of something in one's physical or spiritual facet.
Memory needs courage, and keep something unpleasant and heartbroken in mind can never be a easy task. What the two herbs symbolize has a internal connection based on the complicate thought of man dealing with love issue.
While the rosemary and thyme can't be exact objects because they are considered as the supplement about what has fallen to pieces inside “I”. In this way, they act as the symbolism of the characteristics inside “me”:my courage and memory are lost and ruined.
It forms a contrast between the desire of love and the heartbroken confession, which reveals the complication hidden in the love issue and the pity on the gap between what men really hope and what they finally get！
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