Subtracted Magnolia·Spring Moon
[Song] Su Shi
February 15th night, drink with Zhao Delin at the Star Hall
The moonlit afternoon in the spring court, the fragrant mash is about to dance.
Step into the corridor, half-falling plum blossoms are fragrant.
Light clouds and mists are always a place for teenagers to have fun.
It’s not like the autumn light, it only breaks the heart with Liren.
Translation
In the spring garden, the bright moon is in the sky, drinking in front of the hall, feeling drunk and dancing. Nine-curved corridor, dance steps revolving, plum blossoms on the tree, half withered, the wine is fragrant and plum fragrance, and the beauty is mellow.
Light clouds, thin fog, and the moonlight in the spring evening are a perfect place for young people to have fun. Unlike the autumn moon, which sticks to the parting people, it leads to the hurt of the two places.
Notes
Fragrant mash: fine wines and wines
Wanted delivery: describing the aroma and mellowness Clear and beautiful.
Appreciation
This poem was written in the seventh year of Yuanyou (1092), when Su Shi knew that he was guarding Yingzhou. One spring night, the plum blossoms in front of the hall are in full bloom, and the moonlight is bright. Mrs. Wang said to Su Shi: “The color of the spring moon is better than the color of the autumn moon; the autumn moon is miserable, and the spring moon is pleasant. Why not invite a few friends over and drink this flower.” Su Shi was very happy after hearing his wife’s words. So, I invited a few friends to drink and admire the moon under the plum tree, and took the meaning of Mrs. Wang and wrote the song “Magnolia with Subtracted Characters”.
Film scenes. Enjoying flowers under the moon, drinking and writing poetry are common themes in ancient poetry, and readers care about the feelings and associations that the poet makes when he raises his glass. In this piece, Su Shi wrote that he poured moonlight into his wine glass, allowing readers to share the fragrance and light of the wine with him. This feeling is novel and bold, but also reasonable and natural. The “Moon Noon” in the opening chapter did not already indicate that the moonlight in the middle of the sky was pouring into the cup. The word “swinging” is revealing the poet’s toast to each other’s pride and making the moonlight dance. The poet captures the unusual poetry from the ordinary life, sees the skill in the ordinary, and shows the genius in the pleasure. The moonlight is so bright and clean, and the place where it shines is cold and silver. The plum blossoms in front of Juxingtang also appear brighter and more translucent. The poet could not help but leave the table and stroll on the water-filled cloister. At this time, he began to feel the fragrance, soft and moist, so that he forgot both things and I, and was intoxicated in this beautiful and peaceful realm.
Let’s talk about the next movie. The past film comes from “half-falling plum blossoms”, “you want to fall plum blossoms are more affectionate”, not to mention that the plum blossoms are lightly smoky and have a hazy beauty. Flowers before the moon and under the moon, since ancient times, “it’s always been a place for young people to have fun”, this young man refers to Zhao Delin in general. The poet admired the young signing very much and praised him for being “shrewd in his affairs, handsome in his writing, bright in his agenda, and eloquent in his discussions.” The prefect, also meant to have fun with the youth. Finally, he ends with his wife’s remarks about the moonlight, which he considers poetic.
In this poem, he selected moonlight, plum blossom, cold fragrance, cloister, smoke, etc. to form a quiet and peaceful artistic realm. It shows his pursuit of beautiful things and his cherishing of good times and beautiful scenery, which frees his spirit from political gains and losses. His thoughts are pure, broad-minded and leisurely, which shows an aspect of his spiritual life.
Source: Tang Poems and Song Poems