A Farewell Toast to Shugu at Youmei Hall --to the ci tune “Spring River” Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Nov. 2024)   The view of Southeast is best here at the Hall - A painting of lakes, rivers and hills unrolled. When will Hangzhou honour your return call? Parting is such sweet sorrow, so cheers to all.   Look, Riversdale streets bustle up with lights on. Listen, the rhyme of night vibes with River Tune . Let’s roam the moonlit river of blue crystal   When the night seals a slumber in serene world. Notes: 1.     The Southeast: Youmei Hall faces Hangzhou’s southeast, home to local’s best landscape and most prosperous streets. 2.     Parting is such sweet sorrow: borrowed from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , good use of oxymoron for a stronger artistic effect; Parting in life is a stretching of bonds and the sorrow is tinged with the sweetness of the memories. It anticipates meeting again. 3.     River Tune: a particular music tune for ci lyrics; 4.     the night seals a slumber: borrowed from William Wordsworth’s poem “A slumber did my spirit seal”  (1798); 5. blue crystal: dark blue crystal is associated with humanity, discretion, and honor. It’s calm energy for spiritual awakening, serenity and tranquillity; Analysis:   This is a ci poem composed at a farewell party for his superior and friend Chen Xiang ( 1017-1080 AC, social name ‘Shugu’ ). Shugu was then the governor while Su Shi, in his late thirties, was the secretary general / magistrate of Hangzhou prefecture. They represented the old party (or the shadow party) against the new party. The New Law was enacted and the Royal Court was crowded with Wang Anshi’s followers, whereas Chen Xiang and Su Shi were assigned to posts away from the capital. Hangzhou had always been a most desirable place for her landscape beauty with lakes and rivers intertwined with rolling hills.  It's a land of promise, renowned as ‘China’s Warehouse of Grains’, ‘The Land of Fish and Rice’, ‘Earth Paradise’, and, I’d add to the list, ‘a land of romance and poetry’. Chen Xiang was twenty years older and valued Su Shi’s talents. They entertained each other by echoing with new creations using the same rhyming pattern to the same song tune. They shared the same interest in their political ambition, which was to bring the quality of life in the local area to the best level under their governing period. Indeed they solved historical problems with engineering projects on the city’s water supply and West Lake blockage. A thousand years later, a most popular tourist destination still pronounces their achievements -- Lord Su Causeway. In addition, when Su Shi returned as the governor over a decade later, he built the first hospital in the world where even the prisoners were treated without discrimination. This short ci lyric is a song of praise but in a most implicit way. The first stanza ushers the readers into a beautiful setting before the farewell theme is touched with the implication that Hangzhou people will miss Shugu. The second stanza presents a prosperous city view, implying people in Hangzhou are enjoying a peaceful and gracious life under Shugu’s governance. The last two lines bear dual messages, referring to the projects and that Shugu’s devotion to people’s cause was pure in spirit like a crystal blue river under the bright moon. Indeed, they both contributed a great deal to the success of the projects. Su Shi wished that both of them would keep the same spirit in their future officialdom. 虞美人·有美堂赠述古 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 湖山信是东南美， 一望弥千里。 使君能得几回来， 便使尊前醉倒、且徘徊。   沙河塘里灯初上， 水调谁家唱。 夜阑风静欲归时， 惟有一江明月、碧琉璃。 Reference: m.gushiwen.cn (古诗文网）

I Can Live Without Meat in Food (for Monk Huijue at his Green Bamboo Veranda) Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Jan. 2025) I can live without meat in food, But can’t without bamboo in view. Without meat body will lose weight, Without bamboo life will lose taste. It’s easy to gain a good weight, And not so to gain a good taste. It seems a stubborn lofty pretend, And you may laugh at what I say. If you munch in his noble presence, You can’t ascend the Yangzhou Crane. Su Shi's painting on stone and bamboo Notes: Yangzhou Crane: borrowed from a story in The fables of Ying Yun（《殷云小说》） , where a bunch of ambitious young gentlemen boasted about their future in Yangzhou. One wished to become in a high post at the government office, another said he would become a very wealthy man, but the third one wanted to fill his pockets with silver and gold and fly a crane bird to the immortal world. Well, you know the result -- the crane wouldn't be able to fly with a heavy weight. You can't have everything in life. Analysis:   This little poem can serve as another example of the Song’s way of presenting deep philosophical theory in the disguise of simple everyday language. As a result, the first four lines have become idiomatic expressions in Chinese. The poem reads like a prose in the tone on the theme of virtuous pursuit against vulgar taste in human life, or you may say, an insight to the awareness of the ultimate purpose in this lifetime. Bamboo tree has been recognized as one of the Four Gentlemen ( together with plum blossom, chrysanthemum, and orchid) in China. It’s an emblem of noble elegance, upright honesty and adamant loyalty.   Yu Qian was a county in the territory of Lin'an City (in Hangzhou City). There was a temple where Su Shi favored as he used to have some quality time with his Monk Huijue. The two friends would often enjoy tea in the bamboo yard and explore together the value and virtues of social and natural worlds to better their understanding of Zen ideas. This poem was written when Su Shi visited there during his inspection on the county’s governance as the magistrate of Hangzhou. Of the Four, he favors bamboo the most as we can trace from his paintings as well. He even started the use of red paint for his bamboo paintings, which became a unique style since then. I assume it is another example of his artistic style in the pursuit of the theme rather than the form.  於潜僧绿筠轩 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 宁可食无肉，不可居无竹。 无肉令人瘦，无竹令人俗。 人瘦尚可肥，士俗不可医。 旁人笑此言，似高还似痴。 若对此君仍大嚼，世间那有扬州鹤? Reference: gushiwen.cn picture from google

Eating Lychee at Huizhou Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Jan. 2025) It is a world of spring for all seasons, Where loquat and bayberries swell in turn. I could ate hundreds of lichees as day food, And live in the south at Mt Luofu for good. Analysis:   Nothing in life seems able to torture Su Shi long enough before he could find solace in food. When he was finally released from prison and banished to Huangzhou during Chinese New Year in 1080, he wrote:   “ Oh well, the Yangtse embraces the town in a loop, Where the river fish should taste just as good. There are also bamboo groves over the hills, Where I should find many sweet and earthy shoots.”   Now he was banished even further to Huizhou near the southern border in 1094. Such penalty was generally regarded as a death sentence. Yet, the 57-year-old Dongpo revived again, enjoying fresh local produce that could make some people in the capital very jealous. Lychee fruit had been a popular hint of royal luxury ever since the story about the royal consort Yang, Yuhuan of the Tang Dynasty was exposed in poetry.   What can you do to a great mind like Su Shi? As a result, his opponent party in power was at their wits’ end towards his increasing popularity and influence among the gentle society with his great spirit, his sense of intellectual humour, and of course, his artistic works among which poems and prose went off like fire across the country. In fact, they became so jealous of him, they banished him to the ‘End of World’ – Hainan Island, hoping to silence him once for all.   Judging from the situation, he could indeed wrote it for his readers in middle land, or more precisely, the Emperor, reporting his life from thousands of miles away. The last two lines have become famous quotations, where many commented that he showed a strong Daoist desire for a country life like the great poet Tao Yuanmin. 食荔枝 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 罗浮山下四时春，卢橘杨梅次第新。 日啖荔枝三百颗，不辞长作岭南人。

Qiantang’s river tides and Lushan’s misty rain Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Dec. 2024)   Qiantang’s river tides and Lushan’s misty rain, A hunt of desire and distance drains the mind. Once there, your curious eyes will only find    Qiantang’s river tides and Lushan’s misty rain. from KKnews.cc (每日头条） Analysis:   The Zen humor under the line is associated with life’s three stages in spiritual transcendence. It resonates with the famous lines from Wei Xing, a Zen master, who said: “Before studying Buddhism, I saw the mountain and the river just as they appeared to me. After studying Buddhism, the mountain was not just a mountain; the river was not just a river. Now, the mountain and the river are still the mountain and the river. The third stage seems to have no difference from the first, as in this poem where the last line is a simple repetition of the first.”  Yes, the external world remains the same, but the monk is not the same monk anymore. With a profound understanding of Buddhism, his inner world is transformed to a whole new level. He was enlightened and gained peace in mind. Simple words for profound philosophy -- typical Zen’s way of presenting life. Legend has it that this is his last poem written for his son Su Guo, who was about to start his young career in the government.  Whether Su Shi wrote this is still under debate, but the tone, the theme, and the popular story behind it make you feel it could well be his work.     庐山烟雨浙江潮 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 庐山烟雨浙江潮， 未至千般恨不消。 到得还来别无事， 庐山烟雨浙江潮。

An Ode to Mandarins --to the musical tune The Washing Stream Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Dec. 2024)   When frost faded chrysanths and lotus leaves, Golden mandarins stand out among lush green， Framing the village cottage with bamboo railing.   The fruit bursts with a mist refreshing and sweet. The first taste cools the soul like soothing stream. The scent lingers on Wu ladies’ fingers for a week.     picture from 世界王氏网 Analysis:   This was composed in 1082 when Dongpo was still in Huangzhou as an exiled officer. Huangzhou used to be part of the Wu State in history, hence the expression ‘Wu ladies’ in the last line. Mandarines from Wu used to be fruits of tribute to the Royal family as they had the best flavor. Su Shi was a foodie and has left us many poems on food. He made some famous dishes that are still popular today and are all my favorites. His taste for food is explained in vivid detail in the second stanza – the taste, the scent, and the pleasant memory.   Chrysanthemums and lotus usually imply a good spirit of bravery and purity.  To Dongpo, every hardship could be short-lived as he could always find consolation from good food.  So when good virtue is not appreciated or ignored, good food and wine with friends would get you back on your feet. For a more affluent association, please refer to his other poems “Upon Arriving at Huangzhou”(《初到黄州》) and “ To Liu Jingwen”（《赠刘景文》）. 浣溪沙·咏橘 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 菊暗荷枯一夜霜， 新苞(bāo)绿叶照林光， 竹篱(lí)茅舍出青黄。   香雾噀(xùn)人惊半破， 清泉流齿怯(qiè)初尝， 吴姬三日手犹香。 Reference:

行香子.草际鸣蛩 原作：李清照 （宋） 英译：戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红 草际鸣蛩，惊落梧桐。 正人间天上愁浓。 云阶月地，关锁千重。 纵浮槎来，浮槎去，不相逢。 星桥鹊驾，经年才见， 想离情别恨难穷。 牵牛织女，莫是离中。 甚霎儿晴，霎儿雨，霎儿风。 In the meadow crickets startled parasol trees -- to the Tune of Xingxiangzi written by Li Qingzhao （ 1084-1155？） translated by Gordon Osing & Julia Min modified by Julia Min ( 2024) In the meadow crickets startled parasol trees Into dropping leaves, and an ancient sorrow Fills Heaven and Earth, and the lunar world Sees cloud-wrought stairs strewn with hurdles. Although he goes on boat searching to and fro, He rarely meets among the stars a single soul.   Only once in a year over the vast Starry River, Magpies gather building a bridge for the lovers, Herdsman and Weaver, just one night together. The rest of the year they won’t see each other, An endless struggle like this changing weather. Nothing stays, wind or rain, sunshine or pleasure. For appreciation: This  ci  comes from the period after the poet had moved south to avoid the conquering Jin armies, when her married life was not only interrupted by her husband's departure on official duties, but it was cast into peril for the unforeseeable future. The folktale of the Herdsman and his weaver wife is the usual one summoned to capture the perpetual remorse of lovers whose separations outnumber their times together. Notes: 1. ‘cloud-wrought stairs strewn with hurdles’: the stairs of heaven are made of clouds, the Moon goddess lives in her jade palace, an ideal domain very hard to reach. 2. ‘boat’: Legend says that there are boats sailing in Autumn and August ( Chinese Calendar) in the Starry River every year. So one man decided to set sail to the River and arrived in ten days. He saw the Herdsman with his cows on the riverbank but his wife is far away in some palace on the other side of the River. 3. ‘Herdsman and Weaver’: Just like westerners celebrate Valentine’s Day, Chinese have their celebration on July 7th (Chinese Lunar Calendar). Legend has it that the Herdsman and his weaver wife join each other on a bridge built by the birds for their brief moment. Their one reunion in a year on the "Birds' Bridge", or “Star Bridge”, as it is also called, is their punishment for disobeying Heaven's rules and loving defiantly (fairies are forbidden to marry humans). Pinyin and Word -For-Word Translation: xíng xiāng zǐ cǎo jì míng qióng ， jīng luò wú tóng 。 zhèng rén jiān tiān shàng chóu nóng 。 yún jiē yuè dì ， guān suǒ qiān zhòng 。 zòng fú chá lái ， fú chá qù ， bú xiàng féng 。 xīng qiáo què jià ， jīng nián cái jiàn ， xiǎng lí qíng bié hèn nán qióng 。 qiān niú zhī nǚ ， mò shì lí zhōng 。 shèn shà ér qíng ， shà ér yǔ ， shà ér fēng 。

A Farewell Drink with Qian Mufu -to the tune of The Celestial Man by the River Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') English translation: Julia Min (Mar. 2024) Since last time we parted at capital’s city gate, The firewood’s used three times in same season. Travelling the world not by choice but by fate, You still honour the smile like a breath of spring. The deep old well doesn’t stir a single wave. A bamboo tree gets joints of maturity in autumn.   It’s a shame this very night will see you sail away Just yourself, a pale moon and wandering clouds. When can we meet again after the drink of today? Don’t frown, singing girl, your young eye-brows.- Life is just a long journey of toil and moil. And I, also a wanderer in the endless crowd. Appreciation: The year 1091 saw Su Shi governing Hangzhou again in the east of China. It was a very productive time for him not just in poetry but in his contributions to the city. His friend Mufu, however, was undergoing a downturn in his career being assigned from the capital to Yuezhou, a populous place south of the Yangtse River, and then to Yingzhou, a desolate town up north that had been heavily struck by earthquake, flood and long drought. The grim prospect of the challenging post as Yingzhou Governor could have crushed a gentleman’s expectation for a promising career, but Qianmu was a man with a free and easy attitude towards life changes, still able to stay optimistic with a smile about the hardship ahead. Dongpo deeply admired his sophisticated and mature personality, comparing him to a calm well surface and bamboo of upright integrity.   It had been three years since their last catch-up, and now he was a bit sad as the short reunion came to an end, sighing that his friend had to continue his journey up north. Well, sadness could touch him but never stayed in him for long, as we all know. His optimistic vigour would soon turn him to the sunny side, well this time, to a broad-minded acceptance of sufferings, making peace with whatever comes along on his own journey. The whole poem is about his friend, but every line is also a reflection of Dongpo himself. 临江仙.送钱穆父 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 英译: 闵晓红(2024.03) 一别都门三改火， 天涯踏遍红尘。 一笑仍然作春温。 无波真古井， 有节是秋筠。   惆怅孤帆连夜发， 送行淡月微云。 樽前不用翠眉颦。 人生如逆旅， 我亦是行人。 Reference: picture from 知乎@李兆香

Riding the Rapids on Spring River -to the tune of Xingxiangzi Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Dec. 2024)   One little canoe with two little paddles Stirred the blue mirror of Spring River. The wild geese, startled, lift wings to air. Waking small fish dreaming in algae near. To the misty bank ahead flocked the herons To see our bumpy ride on the white waters Through the morning frost of a sandy dale Into a serene moon river of smooth crystal.   Beyond, a skyline of cascade mountains, -- A stream of screen art at each winding turn. No wonder Lord Yan Lin secluded in here, Immune to the promise of glory from Emperor. There’s nothing like everchanging mountains -- When clear, eyes can reach lands of wonder; When cloudy, crest’s a stage for drifting drama; When day breaks, it’s blue haven, serene and fair. Notes: 1.     Lord Yan Lin: social name Ziling, assisted Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu of East Han dynasty) in ascending the Throne. As he harboured no interest in political ambitions, he changed his name and identity to embrace a life of seclusion here at this Spring River ( 富春江 ). The emperor valued Ziling's talents and personality, wanting to have him at his Court. Artists were dispatched to draw Yan Ziling's portrait, which was then posted far and wide in search of him. Subsequently, reports from the state of Qi indicated a man fishing in marshes while clad in a sheepskin robe. Liu Xiu suspected this was Yan Ziling and promptly dispatched envoys to summon him with carriages and gifts. Despite these efforts, Yan Ziling declined all the offers, determined to  remain in seclusion here on this beautiful Spring River. Analysis:   This little poem reads like a movie streaming before your mind’s eye – from peaceful water surface on higher terrain down through a rapid flow of white waters on the sand river to a serene world of seclusion. It’s like a life cycle, a transformation of ying and yang from peace to chaos and back to peace.   After the water subject, the poem shifts to mountains in the second stanza. By the way, mountains and rivers are another ying-yang combination of static and mobile, which often appears in Chinese paintings. The reference to the well-known story of Yan Ziling brings focus on Su Shi’s theme – the classical argument on a life for glory or a life for peace.   The Song landscape painting embraced blue and green colours in landscape painting. There’s a film just released in October in the name of Just Green and Blue (《只此青绿》) I have loved it ever since the story first appeared in the form of stage dance. Song’s art looks simple, even pretty common to the eye, but enduring as it embodies a complexity of ideas / philosophies beyond.   To enrich your understanding, you may find more pleasure in his other poem about a rapids’ ride --“The 100-Step River Rapids’ Ride” (《百步洪》) which can be found in this website.   行香子 . 过七里濑 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 一叶舟轻，双桨鸿惊。 水天青，影湛波平。 鱼翻藻鉴，鹭点烟汀。 过沙溪急，霜溪冷，月溪明。    重重似画，曲曲如屏。 算当年，虚老严陵。 君臣一梦，今古空名。 但远山长，云山乱，晓山青。 Reference: 1. https://wgly-hangzhou-gov-cn   picture from Google

A Taste of Early Spring --to the ci tune “Tide-washed Sand” Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Nov. 2024)   From the east gate of Hangzhou City, We set out for a taste of early spring. Swelled on trees are buds clothed in sheath, Over the fence the boughs of apricot trees, In scarlet motion waving the call of Spring.   The village ahead is hidden in white snow. The country road sensed a subtle fragrance. Only Spring God makes such magic happen: In a world of icy cold and pure serene, Her first whisper honoured plum blossoms. Analysis:   This little poem was composed in 1072, same period as the previous poem – “ A Farewell Toast to Shugu at Youmei Hall”. For a better understanding of the background, please refer to the annotation in this anthology. The spring theme is rather popular throughout history. What’s special here is an ingenuous blend of spring scene and spring sentiments. There’s an obvious contrast of what he saw and felt inside and outside the city wall. The city is mixed with charming flowers cluttered on boughs bowing to the pedestrians, whereas the country village in snow is blessed with the hidden grace of plum trees that were blooming in solitude in a world of pure serene. His personality and his value emerge from the contrast. Let your imagination go for the association and get to know why the Chinese poets and artists love the plum blossoms so much. 浪淘沙·探春 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 昨日出东城, 试探春情, 墙头红杏暗如倾。 槛内群芳芽未吐， 早已回春。   绮陌敛香尘, 雪霁前村。 东君用意不辞辛。 料想春光先到处， 吹绽梅英。 Reference: picture from https://so.ooopic.com/sousuo/1762538/

A Moon-night Walk at Chengtian Temple Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Nov. 2024)   It was late at night on October 12, my 4th year here at Huangzhou. I was about to undress for bed when the beaming moonlight streamed in through the window. A refreshing chemistry started to boil, yearning for a moon-night walk with a heart friend. And my feet took me to Chengtian Temple for Zhang Huanmin who happened to be there as if expecting my presence. So, together we stepped into the floodlit courtyard which was already transformed into a shimmering pool of algae strangled with water nymphs as in a crystal dream world. I shook myself for a closer look only to find it was just the reflection of the surrounding bamboo and pine trees. … …   Alas, the moon is up there every night, and so are the bamboos and pine trees everywhere. What’s fairly rare is the sight of two stranglers roaming the temple at midnight.   Notes: 1. Chengtian Temple: The historical site today is in the south of Huangzhou, Hubei Province. 2. Zhang Huaimin: social names Woquan and Mengde, a native of Qinghe, Hebei. He was a close friend and a follower of Su Shi, and, like many of his other followers, was also banished to Huangzhou where he stayed in Chengtian Temple for six years. Su Shi wrote another famous ci poem for him – “To Zhang Woquan at the Bracing Pavilion of Huangzhou”《水调歌头.黄州快哉亭赠张偓佺》  https://www.rhymesandvibes.com/post/to-zhang-woquan-at-the-bracing-pavilion-of-huangzhou-1 Analysis : This 84-word short sketch has been included in Chinese school book and many young Chinese can still recite it this day. It was written in 1083 (the sixth year of Yuanfeng, the year name of Song emperor Shenzong Zhao). Dongpo was still on parole of an indefinite period. While many other famous figures would write poems to express their depressed sentiments, Dongpo would always find his strength to accept anything coming his way and transcend beyond to a new spiritual level. Hardship not only made him stronger but also cultivated his character towards a broader mind and a freer spirit with a Daoist sense of humour which in turn invited more followers in the political realm as well as in the commoners’ world.     What I love about him, compared with other politicians and poets, is that he could always find fun or some form of satisfaction no matter what unbearable situation his political rivals put him in. Su Shi, as his first wife commented, didn’t see an enemy in anyone. Here in this desolate place he was again rich in friendship and contented with what Mother Natures offered him. The only regret was that they were supposed to be fully occupied with official duties for the country, but were arranged to enjoy such a long leisure time! Well, he didn’t know then the forthcoming assignment would put him to a high post near the throne, and all his followers would flock back to the capital soon after. 记承天寺夜游 (日记） 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 元丰六年十月十二日夜，解衣欲睡，月色入户，欣然起行。念无与为乐者，遂至承天寺寻张怀民。怀民亦未寝，相与步于中庭。庭下如积水空明，水中藻、荇交横，盖竹柏影也。何夜无月？何处无竹柏？但少闲人如吾两人者耳。 Reference: baike.baidu.com （百度百科） 百度百科.TA说 -- “脑洞趣味历史”

江城子·墨云拖雨过西楼 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 英译及赏析: 闵晓红(2024.08) 墨云拖雨过西楼。 水东流，晚烟收。 柳外残阳，回照动帘钩。 今夜巫山真个好， 花未落，酒新篘。   美人微笑转星眸。 月华羞，捧金瓯。 歌扇萦风，吹散一春愁。 试问江南诸伴侣， 谁似我，醉扬州。 Over the West Pavilion Clouds of Ink Pass by Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Aug. 2024)   Over the west pavilion clouds of ink pass by, Dragging heavy drops away from the sunset sky. Yangtse River runs eastward in waves of white, Taking with it the last breath of cloudy climes. Along the banks willows bow to the golden light That touch curtain hooks to shimmer and shine. It’s a blooming garden with freshly filtered wine, All sweetly tuned for a lushy venue of delight. My beauty has a smile like the starry night. The silver moon, now pale and shy, has to hide. Her singing is like gentle whispers of the night. Her fair fan in hand soothes my moody mind. To River South my peers in the endless fight right: Such fun in Yangzhou I wouldn’t change for thine.   Appreciation: It’s a sentimental poem, a spur-of-the-moment yet well-structured with a yin-yang revolving pattern for a dynamic outcome built with words. Your imaginary eye would follow the poet from west to east, then from the distant to the near only to highlight the main role - the beauty, then to friends afar, and back to ‘me’ here. This could be quite impressive to many people but nothing unique in literature among the Chinese literati. It has been a habitual mindset, like a code pattern set in the Chinese ideology bloodline. And Su Shi was a master of the format.   Let’s dig a little deeper. The readers here are entertained by a passing storm over the west pavilion/chamber which implies, in Chinese literature, the room for ladies / beautiful lovers. Here it foreshadows the singing girl who kept him company during the occasion. Then we are led to the east with the river flowing to the East Sea, suggesting his cloudy days were over, or were supposed to be over for a clearer and freer world. The spring view, the beauty, the wine, and the music were supposed to put him on the moon. Yet, something was bothering him, which was revealed, as usual, in the last couplet that undertones the endless fight between the conservative old party, and the new party, pointing to the miseries of the people even after a prosperous year as they were compelled to pay a lot more debt and tax according to the New Law.   Dongpo was the Magistrate/Mayor of Yangzhou from March to August 1092 after he served as the Secretary-General to the Emperor and Governor of Zhejiang. He was likely greeted by the local officials and gentlemen's society at a garden party where he was invited to compose a poem for the occasion. It was a short stay at Yangzhou but the local people have since loved him for, among other achievements, his huge effort trying to reduce their debt which was finally waived for one year by the emperor. Reference: 2.     baike.baidu.com

水调歌头·明月几时有 丙辰中秋，欢饮达旦，大醉，作此篇。兼怀子由。 原作：【宋】苏轼 英译：戈登.奥赛茵、闵晓红 明月几时有，把酒问青天。 不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年？ 我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。 起舞弄清影，何似在人间！ 转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。 不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？ 人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。 When was the moon ever so bright? - to the tune of Shuidiaogetou (written for the Moon Festival as well as for my brother Ziyou in 1076 after my drinking through the night) translated by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) revised by Julia Min (2022) When was the moon ever so bright? With a wine cup in hand， I ask the black-blue Empyrean What year is it in Heaven tonight? And could I be taken there on the wind! But I fear it must be icy cold being so high in the riches of the jade moon's mansions. To my shadow in the world of humans instead, I'll dance a satire with wine, finding some fun in the moonlight. Shifting from the red pavilion, the full moon threads through the crafted windows, keeping me awake and I can’t complain. Give up hating realities, my Brother; The spell is ancient, beyond men seeking perfection. The moon is fuller n brighter in one’s desolation. What else but joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, like the moon, clouded or brilliant, empty or brimming. Now and always, peace to our hearts, we may share the same far-away Goddess in the One Heaven. （ Other versions ( 许渊冲/林语堂) for your reference） Analysis This is a masterpiece written by Su Shi in Mizhou in 1076, a time of adversity for our poet as he held different views on the New Laws (proposed by Wang Anshi) which was approved and enacted. Feeling himself out of the Emperor’s favor, he asked to be sent away from the Royal Court to the post of Mizhou’s Mayor. His wife had left him and he hadn't seen his brother in seven years. Here his inclination is to wish himself into the legendary jade palace of the Goddess on the moon, of romantic art and beauty, and above all, a life of seclusion from the chaos of social life. Still, he is led to fear the cold perfections of her empire. After all, Su Shi is more a man of the world than a Daoist of fairy lands. Notes: 1. “bing chen”: the year 1076. 2. Legend has it that there is a palace called Guang Han on the moon. 3. The Chinese believe three days in Heaven are equal to three years on Earth, so the dates on Heaven and Earth differ. 4. “Chanjuan” refers to the goddess Chang E, who is said to inhabit the moon palace. Pinying and Word-For-Word Translation: shuǐ diào gē tóu - to the tune of Shuidiaogetou (bǐng chén zhōng qiū ，huān yǐn dá dàn ，dà zuì ，zuò cǐ piān 。jiān huái zǐ yóu ) - Bingchen year Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoy drinking to the next morning; heavily drunk, compose this ci, also miss Ziyou; míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu - bright moon when have; bǎ jiǔ wèn qīng tiān - hold a cup of wine and ask the dark-blue sky; bú zhī tiān shàng gōng què - not know in Heaven Palace; jīn xī shì hé nián - this evening is what year; wǒ yù chéng fēng guī qù – I wish to fly on wind to return; yòu kǒng qióng lóu yù yǔ - but afraid jade towers jade mansions; gāo chù bú shèng hán - high place not bear the cold; qǐ wǔ nòng qīng yǐng - start dancing, make fun with my shadows; hé sì zài rén jiān - what like in human world; zhuǎn zhū gé - the moon turns around red pavilion; dī qǐ hù - lowers light into the crafted doors and windows; zhào wú mián – so much light, no sleep; bú yīng yǒu hèn – should not have hatred; hé shì zhǎng xiàng bié shí yuan – why is it often full and bright when we are parted; rén yǒu bēi huān lí hé – humans have sorrows joys departures reunions; yuè yǒu yīn qíng yuán quē – the moon is cloudy clear wax or wane; cǐ shì gǔ nán quán – such has been difficult for perfection since ancient times; dàn yuàn rén zhǎng jiǔ – only wish we have each other for a long time; qiān lǐ gòng chán juān -thousand li share Chanjuan;