These two poems were written by Li Bai, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, before the Anshi Rebellion at the end of Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty. This is a Yuefu poem. Poets use romantic creative techniques to form a magnificent, magical and meaningful artistic image through rich imagination, clever handling of myths and legends and strong lyricism.
The original poem is as follows:
When I was young, I didn't know the bright moon in the sky, so I called it Bai Yupan.
I suspect it is Yao's platform, flying in the sky.
Is the fairy in the moon hanging her feet?
Why do laurel trees become round in January?
The white rabbit is not an old panacea. Can you tell me who eats it?
Toads eat the full moon, the moon, the moon is so dark, I don't know.
After Yi shot down nine suns, the paradise on earth was clear and quiet.
The moon has been lost, and there is nothing to see except to walk away. Worry, how can I bear the pain, sadness breaks my heart.
Translated into vernacular as follows:
When I was a child, I didn't know the moon, so I called it a white jade plate.
Some people also suspect that it is the fairy mirror of Yaotai, flying above Qingyun in the night sky.
Are immortals hanging their feet in the middle of the month? Why do osmanthus trees grow round in the middle of the month?
Who is the fairy medicine smashed by the white rabbit?
Toad ate the full moon badly, and the moon became dark.
After Yi shot nine suns, heaven and earth survived.
The moon is confused and there is nothing to see. Let's fly away.
I was so worried that I couldn't bear to go away. Sadness makes me deeply grieved.
This poem was probably written by Li Bai to cope with the darkness of state affairs at that time. In his later years, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty indulged in debauchery, favoring Yang Guifei, and became a traitor, eunuch, and border general, making the country a mess. In the poem, "The toad eats a round shadow, and the bright night is over" seems to satirize this dark situation. Shen Deqian said, this is "insinuating that the imperial concubine will confuse the Lord". However, the poet's theme is unclear, but he takes the whole article as a code word, turns reality into a mirage, and alludes to reality with a toad eclipsing the moon, which is very profound and tortuous. One novel and wonderful imagination after another in the poem shows the ups and downs of the poet's feelings, and the words are like flowing water, full of charm and intriguing, which embodies the bold, fresh and elegant style of Li Bai's poems.
The first four sentences in the poem "When I was a child, I didn't know the moon, so I called it a white jade plate." I also suspect that Yao Taijing is flying at the end of Qingyun Mountain. "First of all, I wrote about the childishness of the moon in my childhood, and compared it with White Jade Plate and Yaotai Mirror, which vividly showed the shape of the moon and the bright and lovely moonlight, making people feel very novel and interesting. The verbs "shout" and "doubt" convey the innocence of children. These four poems seem to be handwritten, but they are full of beautiful feelings and talents.
Then, he wrote about the rise of the moon: "The immortal hangs his feet, and the osmanthus tree is round?" The white rabbit smashed the medicine and asked who to take it with. "According to ancient myths, there are immortals, osmanthus trees and white rabbits in the moon. When the moon rises, I first see the feet of immortals, and then gradually see the complete shapes of immortals and laurels, the full moon in the middle of the moon and the white rabbit. The poet used this myth and legend to write a fairyland-like scene when the moon was born.
However, the good times didn't last long, and the moon gradually eroded from the circle: "Toad eroded the round shadow, and Daming night was gone." Toad, commonly known as toad; Daming, the moon. Legend has it that the eclipse was caused by a toad eating the moon, and the moon was darkened by the toad. The poet's feelings and hopes are manifested in "the past dust has fallen into nine evils, and the harmony between man and nature is clear." In ancient times, Houyi, who was good at shooting, shot nine suns, leaving only one, saving the sky and people from fire and water. The poet painted such a hero here, not only because of the lack of such a hero in reality, but also because he hoped that such a hero would sweep the world.
However, reality is reality after all, and the poet is deeply disappointed: "Although the yin essence is confusing, it is not enough." Now that the moon is lost and confused, there is nothing to see, so let's go before it's too late. This is a helpless way. The worries in my heart have not been alleviated, but have deepened: "What about worries?" It's heartbreaking "The poet is reluctant to go away, and his heart is full of contradictions and worries.