Song title: Prelude to Water Melody - How long will the full moon appear? (Or: When did the moon first appear?)
English Lyricist and Singer: Gene
Mandarin Singer: Teresa Teng
Composer: Vincent Liang
Chinese Lyricist & Poet: SU Shih (Song Dynasty)
Introduction:
SU Shih wrote this song poem on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a harvest festival on the full moon, to express his nostalgia and homesickness after a seven-year separation from his brother. It includes broader philosophical reflections on happiness, sorrow and separation. It is interesting to note how Su draws connections between the moon’s shape and the grieving, rejoicing, separating and reuniting of human beings.
In ancient China, a full moon was a metaphor for happiness and fulfilled goals, whereas a moon that wasn't full meant loss and regret.
SU Shih (蘇軾) is one of the most renowned poets in ancient China, and certainly a best-known poet in Song Dynasty. He had many roles - principled politician, esteemed poet, celebrated calligrapher, and gastronome.
[This video was first uploaded to Gan Jing World on 25 September 2023, and the description was updated on 5 July 2024]
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