"Gu Lang Yue Xing"
Tang Dynasty: Li Bai
When he was young, he didn't know the moon, so he called it a white jade plate.
I also suspected that the Yao Tai Mirror was flying in the blue clouds.
The immortal has his legs hanging down, and the osmanthus tree is not round.
The white rabbit pounded the medicine and asked who he wanted to eat with?
The toad erodes its round shadow, and the bright night is gone.
In the past, Yi fell from the Nine Crows, and heaven and man were clear and peaceful.
The Yin essence has fallen into confusion, and it is not enough to understand it.
How are you worried? The sadness is heartbreaking.
Translation
When I was a child, I didn’t know the moon, so I called it a white jade plate.
I also suspected that it was the Yaotai Fairy Mirror, flying above the blue clouds in the night sky.
Does the immortal in the moon hang his feet? Why does the laurel tree grow round in the middle of the moon?
Who is the elixir made by the white rabbit for?
The toad gnawed the full moon into pieces, making the bright moon dim and unclear.
Hou Yi shot down nine suns, thus avoiding disasters in heaven and earth.
The moon has disappeared and is confusing. There is nothing to see, so it is better to walk away.
How can I bear to leave when I am so worried? The misery and sadness make me heartbroken.
Appreciation
Bao Zhaoyou's "Long Moon Walk" is about a beautiful lady singing to the crescent moon. Li Bai adopted this title, so it was called "Gu Long Yue Xing", but he did not follow the old content.
The poet used romantic creative methods, through rich imagination, clever processing of myths and legends, and strong lyricism, to form a magnificent, magical and profound artistic image. The poem first describes the childish understanding of the moon in childhood: "I didn't know the moon when I was young, and I called it a white jade plate. I also doubted the moonlight, flying in the blue clouds." Using "white jade plate" and "Yaotai mirror" as metaphors, it is vivid It perfectly shows the shape of the moon and the brightness and cuteness of the moonlight, which makes people feel very novel and interesting. The two verbs "hu" and "suspect" convey the innocence and innocence of children. These four lines of poetry seem to be written by hand, but they are full of emotion and inspiration. Then, he writes about the rising of the moon: "The immortal hangs his legs, how can the osmanthus tree be bunched up? The white rabbit pounded the medicine, and asked who he wanted to eat with?" Ancient mythology says that there are immortals, osmanthus trees, and white rabbits in the middle of the moon. When the moon rises, I first see the two feet of the immortal, and then gradually see the entire image of the immortal and the osmanthus tree, see a full moon, and see the white rabbit pounding medicine in the moon. The poet used this myth and legend to write about the gradually brightening and fairyland-like scenery when the moon was born. However, the good times did not last long, and the moon gradually eclipsed from a circle: "The toad eclipses the round shadow, and the bright night is gone." Toad, commonly known as toad; Ming Dynasty, refers to the moon. Legend has it that a lunar eclipse is caused by a toad eating the moon. The moon was eaten by the toad and was damaged, making it dark and unclear. "In the past, Yi has fallen into the Nine Crows, and heaven and man are pure and peaceful", which expresses the poet's emotion and hope. Hou Yi, who was good at shooting in ancient times, shot down nine suns, leaving only one, which saved heaven and man from disaster. The poet introduces such a hero here, not only to lament the lack of such a hero in reality, but also to hope that there will be such a hero to wipe out the world. However, reality is reality after all, and the poet is deeply disappointed: "The Yin spirit has become confused, and it is not enough to see if it goes away." Since the moon has disappeared and is confused, there is nothing to see, so it is better to leave as soon as possible. This is a helpless solution. Not only is the worry and anger in his heart not relieved, but it is deepened: "Why does worry come? Sadness destroys the heart and liver." The poet couldn't bear to leave, and he was full of internal contradictions and worried.
This poem was probably written by Li Bai in response to the political darkness at that time. In his later years, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty indulged in sensuality and favored Concubine Yang. He became a powerful traitor, eunuch and border general, and made the country a mess. The poem "The toad has eroded its round shadow, and the bright night has faded" seems to be a satire on this gloomy situation. Shen Deqian said that this "implies that the imperial concubine can deceive the Lord." ("Tang Poems") However, the poet's main purpose is not clearly stated. Instead, he uses cryptic language throughout the poem, turning reality into an illusion, and using toads to eclipse the moon to allude to reality. It is very profound and tortuous. One novel and wonderful imagination after another in the poem shows the poet's ups and downs of emotions, and the words are flowing, charming and thought-provoking, reflecting the majestic, unrestrained, fresh and elegant style of Li Bai's poetry.