Full poem
The cold autumn light of silver candles paints the screen, and the small light fan flutters at the flowing fireflies.
The night is as cold as water in the sky. I lie down and watch Altair and Vega.
"Lying and Looking at Altair and Vega" comes from a seven-character quatrain "Autumn Evening" written by Du Mu, a poet in the Tang Dynasty. It is a poem about palace resentment.
Translation of "Autumn Eve"
In the autumn night, candlelight illuminates the painting screen,
Holding a small Luo fan in hand to beat the fireflies.
The stone steps are as cool as cold water at night.
Sit quietly in the palace and gaze at the Altair and the Vega.
Appreciation of "Autumn Evening"
The first sentence of this poem describes the autumn scenery, using the word "cold" to imply the cold autumn atmosphere and bring out the loneliness in the protagonist's heart. The second sentence is about using fireflies to pass the time and relieve sadness. Three sentences are written about being unable to sleep late at night, waiting for luck to come. The sky and streets are like water, which is a metaphor for your love as ice. The last sentence expresses the sadness in my heart by admiring the Morning Glory and the Weaver Girl. The whole poem reflects the unfortunate fate of the palace women and expresses the depressed mood of a palace lady who has no friends and is bored. Notes on "Qiuxi"
⑴Qiuxi: Autumn night.
⑵Silver candle: Silver and exquisite candle. Silver, one is "red". Painted screen: A screen with painted patterns.
⑶ Qingluo small fan: a lightweight silk round fan. Liuying: flying fireflies.
⑷Tian steps: open-air stone steps. Heaven, one is "Yao".
⑸ Sit and watch: Sit and look toward the sky. Sitting: one means "lying". Altair and Vega: The names of two constellations, referring to Altair and Vega. It also refers to the characters in ancient mythology, the Morning Bull and the Weaver Girl.
Background of the creation of "Autumn Eve"
Du Mu is the grandson of Prime Minister Du You and the son of Du Congyu. In the second year of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty, he was awarded Jinshi at the age of 26 and was awarded the title of School Secretary of Hongwen Hall. He is one of the most famous poets and calligraphers in the world, and has written many military papers. For such a talented person who has been working as a staff in other places for many years, he will naturally feel a little disappointed and depressed. "Autumn Eve" was written in such a mood. The poet used the image of a palace maid to express his feelings about not being recognized for his talent. Introduction to the author of "Qiu Xi"
Du Mu (AD 803-about 852), courtesy name Muzhi, also known as Fanchuan Jushi, was of Han nationality and was born in Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi'an, Shaanxi). Du Mu was an outstanding poet and essayist in the Tang Dynasty. He was the grandson of Prime Minister Du You and the son of Du Congyu. In the second year of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty, he was awarded Jinshi at the age of 26 and was awarded the title of School Secretary of Hongwen Hall.
Later he went to Jiangxi to observe the envoys, transferred to Huainan Jiedu, and then joined the observation envoys. He was the editor of the National History Museum, the Shanbu, Bibu, Si Xunyuanwailang, Huangzhou, Chizhou, Mu State governor and other positions. Because he lived in Fanchuan Villa in South Chang'an in his later years, he was called "Du Fanchuan" by later generations and wrote "Collected Works of Fanchuan".
Du Mu's poems are famous for their seven-character quatrains, and their content is mainly about chanting history and expressing feelings. His poems are handsome and full of historical things, and he achieved great success in the late Tang Dynasty. Du Mu was called "Little Du" to distinguish him from Du Fu, "Big Du". Together with Li Shangyin, he is known as "Little Li Du".