Chinese people love festivals and there are many festivities. Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most popular ones. In fact it is so popular that many places in China designate it as a public holiday. Many historians come up with different versions as to the origin of this festival. It was said that Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival to celebrate the harvest for the year. China has been an agricultural country for thousands of years. After a full year of hard labor, the farmers have to find a way to celebrate after the harvest is done. There is no better month to hold the occasion than August. And what better day than the 15th of August ( lunar calendar ) when the moon is full.
The legends, folklores and mythology associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival are many and you can find them under other topics in this special feature. It also plays a part in the Chinese history. While Zhu Yuan-zhang was able to take advantage of the Festival and passed his war messages in the moon cakes, Li Yu was not as fortunate. After surrendering his kingdom to the Emperor of Song , Li was under house arrest in the capital. The beautiful autumn moon can only bring him great grief and he was executive by the Emperor after writing this famous Ci.
Moon is a favorite subject for the poets. In this section, you will be able to find a good selection of them. You will also find out other than in poems, moon is often used to name places and scenic spots. Many parents use moon to name their daughters. Many restaurants are named after moon. A good poem can also be attractive to tourists as is the case with this famous poem by Zhang Ji [Chang Chi]:
Moon is certainly a marvel to be admired up in the sky. It is clear, bright and brilliant. However, it is also far, distant and cold, not exactly a good place to be lived in, as correctly pointed out by poet Li ShanYin.
It is this earth, our countries, our communities, our families, our friends and our loved ones that we should treasure. The great poet Su Shi wrote the following famous Ci that indicate this themes:Everone want to be able to admire the moon and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with his loved ones.
English Version
Will a moon so bright ever arise again?
Drink a cupful of wine and ask of the sky.
I don't know where the palace gate of heaven is,
Or even the year in which tonight slips by.
I want to return riding the whirl-wind! But I
Feel afraid that this heaven of jasper and jade
Lets in the cold, its palaces rear so high.
I shall get up and dance with my own shadow.
From life endured among men how far a cry!
Round the red pavilion
Slanting through the lattices
Onto every wakeful eye,
Moon, why should you bear a grudge, O why
Insist in time of separation so th fill the sky?
Men know joy and sorow, parting and reunion;
The moon lacks lustre, brightly shines; is al, is less.
Perfection was never easily come by.
Though miles apart, could men but live for ever
Dreaming they shared this moonlight endlessly!
