Gu Lang Yue Xing①
Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty
When he was young, he didn’t know the moon.
Called it a white jade plate②.
I also doubted the Yao Tai Mirror ③,
Flying in the blue clouds ④.
[About the author]
Li Bai (701-762) was a poet of the Tang Dynasty. The courtesy name is Taibai, the name is Qinglian Jushi, and his ancestral home is Chengji, Longxi (near today's Tianshui, Gansu Province). He spent a little time in Shu, studying and learning Taoism. At the age of 25, he traveled to Sichuan and lived in Lu County. He traveled to Chang'an in search of fame, but returned east frustrated. At the beginning of Tianbao, Chunzhao came to Beijing to worship Hanlin. Soon he was slandered out of Beijing and wandered around the country. The Anshi Rebellion broke out, and Yong Wang Li Lin entered the army; and Yong Wang was killed by Su Zong, and because of his implication, he was imprisoned and Yelang was exiled. Later, when he was pardoned and returned to the east, he died as a result of Tu's order, Li Yangbing. Bai Juyi, another poet of the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem, "But the worst fate of a poet is to be likened to a king, who has fallen into poverty", which is a portrayal of his lonely and miserable life experience. However, he reflected reality, described mountains and rivers, expressed ambitions, and chanted emotions with his romantic poetry, and thus became a great poet who has illuminated the ages.
[Notes]
①Gu Langxing: "The Collection of Yuefu Poems" is written as "Long Yue Xing", an ancient inscription from Yuefu.
②White jade plate: A plate made of white jade.
③ Yaotai: It is said that the palace where the Queen Mother of the West lives.
④ Qingyunduan: the top of Qingyun.
[Explanation]
This is also a Yuefu poem. Bao Zhaoyou "Long Moon Journey". Li Bai chose this title, so it was called "Gu Long Yue Xing". The poem begins by describing the shape of the moon, and then uses some legends about the moon. Later I sighed that the bright moon could no longer be appreciated after the lunar eclipse. This may be a metaphor or a reference, but it is no longer clear what it is a metaphor for.
[Poem Translation]
When I was young, I didn’t know what the bright moon was, so I called it the white jade plate hanging in the sky.
I also suspected that it was a mirror on the Yao Platform,
It flew to the top of Qingyun for no reason.
[Appreciation]
The original poem "Gu Lang Yue Xing" has 16 lines. Here are the first four lines of the excerpt. These four lines of poetry describe the moon in children's eyes, full of romantic and magical reverie. Throughout the ages, the moon has always touched people's hearts. There are also some beautiful legends about the moon, such as the Jade Rabbit making medicine, Wu Gang conquering Gui, Chang'e dancing, etc., which really fascinate children. Everyone has childhood. Children are full of fantasy and are more curious about the moon. These four lines of poetry are Li Bai's impressions of the moon when he was a child. "When I was young, I didn't know the moon, and I called it a white jade plate." These two sentences mainly describe the shape of the moon. The moon (meaning moon) is round, and the white jade plate is also round. They are similar, so we can draw an analogy. In addition to being round, the moon can also emit light (not in a scientific sense), so there are two sentences: "I doubt the Yao Tai mirror again and fly up to the blue clouds". These two sentences are written from the perspective of the moon shining. The moonlight is bright and beautiful, and the mirror can reflect light. There are similarities between the two, so I suspect that the moon is like the mirror on the Yao platform flying to the top of the blue clouds. This is another metaphor. And "Yao Terrace" is the residence of the Queen Mother of the West. It also has a mythological color, which adds to the charming effect. These four lines of poetry are written with children's thinking, humorous and full of innocence and childishness; they also use "white jade plate" and "Yao Tai mirror" as metaphors, and the language is lively and lively. These four lines of poetry can also be regarded as a children's song, which can open up children's minds.