Vernacular translation:
When did the bright moon begin to appear? I picked up my wine glass and asked the sky. I don’t know what year or month it is tonight in the palace in the sky. I want to ride the cool breeze back to the sky, but I'm afraid I can't stand the cold for nine days in a building made of beautiful jade. Dancing gracefully and admiring the clear shadows under the moon, how does it feel like you are in the human world?
The moon turned around the vermilion pavilion and hung low on the carved windows, illuminating myself who was not sleepy. The bright moon shouldn't have any regrets for people, right? Why does it become full only when people leave? People undergo changes in joys and sorrows, and the moon waxes and wanes. This kind of thing has been difficult to understand since ancient times. I just hope that all the relatives in this world can be safe and healthy, and can enjoy this beautiful moonlight even if they are thousands of miles apart.
Word translation:
⑴Bingchen: refers to 1076 AD (the ninth year of Xining, Shenzong of the Song Dynasty). In this year, Su Shi served as the prefect of Mizhou (now Zhucheng City, Shandong Province).
⑵ Dadan: Until dawn.
⑶ Ziyou: The name of Su Zhe, Su Shi's younger brother, is called "Three Su" together with his father Su Xun and his brother Su Shi.
⑷Put the wine: Pick up the wine glass. Hold, hold, hold.
⑸Heavenly Palace (què): refers to the palace in the middle of the moon. Que, the stone platform behind the ancient city wall.
⑹Chengfeng: ride on the wind; rely on the power of the wind. Go back: Go back to the sky
⑺ Qiong (qióng) Lou Yuyu: A building made of beautiful jade, referring to the imaginary fairy palace.
⑻ Unbearable (old pronunciation shēng): unable to withstand, unable to bear. Win: bear, endure.
⑼Get clear shadow: It means that the poet dances in the moonlight, and the shadow also dances with it. Nong: play with, appreciate.
⑽ He is like: He is like, how can it be compared.
⑾ Turning around the vermilion pavilion, the low Qi (qǐ) door shines on the sleepless people: the moon moves, turns around the vermilion pavilion, hangs low on the carved windows, and shines on the sleepless people ( referring to the poet himself). Zhu Pavilion: A gorgeous vermilion pavilion. Kito: Doors and windows with ornate carvings.
⑿There should be no hatred, why should it be long (cháng) to be round when we say goodbye: (Yueer) shouldn't have any regrets (for people), why should it be round when people are separated? What: Why.
⒀This matter: refers to the "huan" and "he" of people and the "clear" and "round" of the moon.
But: only.
⒂Thousands of miles away*** Chan (chán) Juan (juān): I just hope that the two of you will be safe every year. Even though they are thousands of miles apart, they can still enjoy the beautiful moonlight together. ***: Let’s enjoy it together. Chanjuan: originally refers to beautiful things. This time it refers to the moon.
Original text:
When will the bright moon come? Ask the sky for wine. I don’t know what year it is today in the palace in the sky. I want to ride the wind back home, but I'm afraid it's too cold in the high places. Dance to figure out the shadow, how does it seem to be in the human world.
Turn to the Zhu Pavilion, where you will find a low-rise house, and the light will make you sleepless. There shouldn't be any hatred, so what's the point of saying goodbye? People have joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, and the moon waxes and wanes. This has never been the case in ancient times. I hope that people will live long and travel thousands of miles to meet Chanjuan.
Source: From "Shui Tiao Ge Tou: When Will the Bright Moon Come" by Su Shi, a writer in the Song Dynasty.
Extended information:
"Shui Diao Ge Tou: When will the bright moon come" was written by the author when he was in Mizhou during the Mid-Autumn Festival in 1076 AD (the ninth year of Xining, Shenzong of the Song Dynasty). The small preface before the words explains the process of writing the words: "On the Mid-Autumn Festival in Bingchen, I drank happily and got drunk. I wrote this article because I was pregnant with my son."
Su Shi was famous for his relationship with Wang Anshi, the reformer in power, etc. He had different views on people and politics, so he sought to be outside the country and served as an official in various places. He once asked to be transferred to an official position closer to Su Che so that his brothers could gather together more often.
In 1074 AD (the seventh year of Xining), Su Shi sent a mission to Mizhou. After arriving in Michigan, this wish still could not be realized. In the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1076 AD, the bright moon was in the sky and silver lights were everywhere. Su Shi and his brother Su Che had not been reunited for seven years after they separated. At this moment, Su Shi was facing a bright moon, his heart was up and down, so he took advantage of the wine and wrote the famous poem "Shui Diao Ge Tou: When will the bright moon come".