history
From Song philosopher Shao Yong's preface to 《伊川击壤集》: life's hardships pass 异四时风花雪月一过乎眼也 - 'like the year's wind, flowers, snow, and moon drifting past the eyes'.
culture
Classical 'four subjects of poetry' - wind, flower, snow, moon - became shorthand first for romantic/aesthetic writing, then (often critically) for fluff with no substance.
