The clear and vigorous style of "Shui Diao Ge Tou" is very different from the soft and graceful style of Huajian and Jin Lian. It reveals the bold style of Dongpo's poetry for the first time, which is refreshing to read. But what is more enlightening and meaningful is Su Shi’s wise thinking on life and physics. Let’s take a look at it. Below are the ancient poems of Su Shi, the water-melody singer, that I have compiled for you. I hope you like it.
Original text of "Shui Tiao Ge Tou":
Bingchen was drinking in the Mid-Autumn Festival and was very drunk. I wrote this article because I was pregnant with my son.
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 find out
How does the shadow seem to be in the human world.
Turning to the Zhu Pavilion, the Qihu is low, and the light is sleepless. There shouldn't be any hatred, so what's the point of being reunited when we say goodbye? People have joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, and the moon waxes and wanes. This is a difficult thing in ancient times. I hope that people will live long
and be thousands of miles away.
Translation of "Shui Tiao Ge Tou":
On the Mid-Autumn Festival of the Bingchen year, I drank happily until the morning of the next day, and got drunk I wrote this poem while thinking about my younger brother Ziyou.
When did the bright moon appear? Pick up your wine glass and ask the sky.
I don’t know what year it is tonight in the palace in the sky.
I want to ride the cool breeze back to the sky, but I am afraid that the beautiful jade buildings in the Moon Palace cannot withstand the cold of nine days.
Dancing and enjoying the clear shadows under the moon, how can returning to the Moon Palace compare to being in the human world.
The moon turns around the vermilion pavilion and hangs low on the carved windows, illuminating the sleepless people (referring to the poet himself)
The bright moon should not have any influence on people. What kind of resentment, why do they only become perfect when people part ways?
People have changes in joys and sorrows, and the moon has changes in waxing and waning.
This kind of thing has been difficult to understand since ancient times.
I hope that my loved ones can be safe and healthy, and that they can enjoy this beautiful moonlight even though they are thousands of miles apart.
The creative background of "Shui Diao Ge Tou":
This poem was written by the author when he was in Mizhou during the Mid-Autumn Festival in 1076 AD (the ninth year of Xining, Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty). The small preface before the words explains the process of writing the words: "Bingchen Mid-Autumn Festival, drinking happily until the end of the year, and getting drunk. I wrote this article because I was pregnant with my son." Because Su Shi had different political views from Wang Anshi, the reformer in power, and others, he asked for help. Fang, moved around as an official.
Su Shi once asked to be transferred to a place closer to Su Che as an official so that his brothers could gather 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 younger brother Su Che had not been reunited for seven years after they separated. At this moment, Su Shi faced a bright moon, his heart was up and down, so he took advantage of the wine and wrote this famous poem.
Theme of "Shui Tiao Ge Tou":
The thoughts and emotions expressed in this poem are originally very obvious. Su Shi was frustrated by his political situation and had an affair with Su Zhe, his younger brother. Farewell, the Mid-Autumn Festival to the moon, not without a sense of depression and melancholy. However, Su Shi did not fall into the negative and pessimistic mood. He immediately eliminated worries with detached and optimistic thoughts, and finally showed his love for human life.