Note 106.
The bitter bamboos make a cold sound, swaying in the Autumn moonlight.
The ancient Chinese divided bamboos into two classes: the bitter and the tasteless.
[THE "LOOKING-FOR-HUSBAND" ROCK]
Note 107.
In the attitude, and with the manner, of the woman of old.
A reference to a legend of a woman who was turned to stone. (See Note 45.)
Note 108.
Her resentment is that of the Woman of the Hsiang River.
O Huang and her sister Nü Ying were the wives of Shun, the "Perfect Emperor" (2317-2208 B.C.). When he died, and was buried near the Hsiang River, they wept so copiously over his grave that their tears burned spots on the bamboos growing there, and thus was the variety known as the "spotted bamboo" created. Eventually the despairing ladies committed suicide by throwing themselves into the river.