The five-character quatrains of ancient poems about the Lantern Festival are:
1. Shengchazi·Yuanxi Opera Chen Jingsou
Liu Kezhuang (Song Dynasty)
Many lights capture the beauty. Playing drums invade Mingfa. The objects are the same in the old days, but the sentiments are different in the middle years.
The eyebrows in the mirror are lightly painted, and the western moon in the building is deeply worshiped. People disperse and the sound of the market closes, and the sad season gradually begins.
Translation:
The brilliant lights of the Lantern Festival have taken away the brightness of the bright moon, and the noisy drums sound until dawn. The customs and customs are the same as before, but when people reach middle age, the mood becomes a bit bleak.
Like Zhang Chang of the Han Dynasty, he traced the eyebrows of a beautiful woman in front of the mirror, and together they admired the moon in the building and prayed for eternity. The happy people gradually dispersed, and the streets were as quiet as ever, but my mood gradually felt a little sad.
2. Good things are coming soon·The spring rain is as fine as dust
Zhu Dunru [Song Dynasty]
The spring rain is as fine as dust, and the willow silk outside the building is yellow and wet. The wind blows the embroidered curtains away, revealing the cold green through the window screens.
The beautiful woman is sitting on the Yuan lantern with her laziness, and leaning on the Yao se with tears. But he went to Zigu Incense and asked about news from Liaodong.
Translation:
The spring rain was like tiny dust particles, wetting the golden willow silk outside the building. The curtains were blown sideways by the wind, and you could feel a slight chill through the green screens.
The beauty lazily cut the lantern, and burst into tears while playing the Yao Se. He held up a stick of incense and asked Zigu for fortune telling, wanting to know if there was any news about his relatives.
3. Watching Lanterns on the Fifteenth Night
Lu Zhaolin [Tang Dynasty]
In the early years, there was a feast in Jinli, and the orchids were beautiful.
The colors are far away, and the light is far away in the sky.
The stars are falling in the Han Dynasty, and the moon is hanging by the building.
Don’t have the smile of a thousand gold, come and reflect in front of the nine branches.
Translation:
In the gorgeously colored lights, the couple held a banquet and had fun to celebrate. Under the exquisite lamps, the young people looked even more bright and beautiful.
The brilliant colors of the lights seem to have separated the earth from a distance, and numerous lights dot the sky far away.
The lights and fireworks connecting the Tianhe River seem like stars falling down, and the lights leaning against the tall buildings look like the moon hanging in the sky.
There is also a beautiful woman’s beautiful smile reflected in the nine-branched firelight.
4. Ouyang Xiu [Song Dynasty]
On the night of Yuan Dynasty last year, the lights in the flower market were as bright as day.
On the top of the willow tree in the moonlight, people meet after dusk.
On the Lantern Festival this year, the moon and lights are still the same.
I can’t see the person from last year, and the sleeves of my spring shirt are wet with tears.
Translation:
During the Lantern Festival last year, the flower market was illuminated like daylight.
Make an appointment with the beautiful woman after dusk, when the moon is above the willow branches, and talk about your heart.
On the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month this year, the moonlight and lights are still the same as last year.
I can no longer see my old friend from last year, and the sleeves of my spring shirt are wet with tears of lovesickness.
5. Su Weiwei [Tang Dynasty]
Fire trees and silver flowers close together, and the iron locks of the star bridge open.
The dark dust follows the horse, and the bright moon follows the person.
All the entertainers are wearing plums, and all the singing is falling.
Jinwu can’t control the night, and the jade leaks don’t urge each other.
Translation:
The bright lights are scattered here and there, reflecting the bright light in the depths of the garden, like delicate flowers; since everywhere is accessible, the iron locks of the city gate are also opened.
The crowds are surging, and the dust is flying under the horses' hooves; the moonlight shines in every corner, and people can see the bright moon everywhere.
Under the shadow of the moonlight, the singing girls were dressed in colorful flowers and heavy makeup, singing "Plum Blossoms Fall" as they walked.
The night ban has been lifted in the capital, so don’t be too busy with timekeeping. Don’t let the Lantern Festival night, which only happens once a year, pass by in a hurry.