Viewing the Moon on Mid-Autumn Night

Introducion:

The poem describes the moon-lit scene and the people in the courtyard admiring the moon on the night of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

     

Text:

Shí Wǔ Yè Wàng Yuè

十  五   夜   望  月

 

(唐)  王 建

 

zhōng tíng dì bái shù qī yā

 中       庭 地 白    树 栖 鸦，

lěng lù wú shēng shī guì huā

 冷   露 无    声     湿    桂 花。

jīn yè yuè míng rén jìn wàng

今 夜 月    明    人  尽    望，

bù zhī qiū sī zài shuí jiā

不 知  秋 思 在 谁 家？

 

Viewing the Moon on Mid-Autumn Night

(Tang) Wang Jian

 

A crow is perched on the court tree in moonlight,

 And osmanthuses are mutely wet with chilly dews.

When all eyes are raised towards the moon this night,

Who for homesickness is alone deep in the blues?

 

Comment

The poem describes the moon-lit scene and the people in the courtyard admiring the moon on the night of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. The ground, trees, birds, dewdrops and sweet-scented osmanthuses are not only actual things in the yard but also the imaginary counterparts in the moon. Factual or imaginary, they are typical scenes on the Mid-Autumn night. The words "perched" and "mutely" demonstrate the quiet and desolation of the festive night. The full moon traditionally signifies a family reunion closely associated with the Moon Festival. Tonight the moon is so bright and so many people enjoy watching the moon, but who is alone in deep homesickness, only accompanied by the moon?