Even better than the real thing (1/n)

The emperor's imitation flowers

Tang Dynasty silk flowers probably weren’t quite as good as these, but…

On the Occasion of Cutting Imitation Flowers in the Royal Banqueting Hall on the First Day of Spring
Li Qiao

Long in advance, we heard of New Year coming,
Cut silks to emulate its fragrant season.
They stitched the greens into a startling likeness,
And trimmed the reds with skillful realism.
Now flowers bloom out of his packing crates,
And leaves accent the springtime in his hand.
It is with time itself that he competes;
What else would we expect from Heaven’s man?

李峤  立春日侍宴内殿出剪彩花应制
早闻年欲至，剪彩学芳辰。
缀绿奇能似，裁红巧逼真。
花从箧里发，叶向手中春。
不与时光竞，何名天上人。

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This poem is part of a group written in 708 at a gathering of the great and good in honour of the Emperor Zhongzong, on the festival day the First Day of Spring (actually held in the middle of winter). Seven of the poems written that day were preserved in the compendium of Tang poems, making it one of the best-attested poetic social events of the dynasty.

These poems are court poems, so they do not contain deep insights or personal viewpoints. But they do display a lovely variety of devices. In this one, Li Qiao is mythologising the emperor in real time.