Why Is Moon An Expressive Imagery in Chinese Poetry

Moon, as the celestial body nearest to the Earth, has been symbolising humans' emotions, inspirations and worships towards the nature since the start of civilisation. During the time when civilisations were only in primitive forms, the Moon was worshipped as a symbol of wisdom, mystery, prowess, harvest, eternity, procreation and beauty. As time elapsed, the idea about the Moon had gradually differentiated. In the West, the Moon was seen as an ominous sign of crime, evil, apathy and loneliness. However, in Chinese culture, the Moon is always linked with emotions such as sadness, nostalgia and affection. This is especially prominent in Chinese poetry where poets express love, nostalgia with the Moon as an imagery.

But why has the Moon become such a core imagery in Chinese poetry? Well, although there's no actual study that has shown the origin of the Moon used in poetry, it is probably related to one of the most famous and classical Chinese mythologies, 嫦娥奔月 (Chang E Flying to the Moon).

The story goes like this: once upon a time, there was a king named Hou Yi (后羿) who was a marvellously gifted archer. One year, there were ten suns rising in the sky, burning the creatures, buildings and everything all to the ground. Hou Yi took out his bow and shot down nine of the suns and saved the world. The gods were impressed by his bravery and heroic achievement, so they sent him an Immortality Pill as an award. When Hou Yi's wife, Chang E (嫦娥), found out the Immortality Pill, she stole the Pill and ingested it in hopes she would attain eternity of life. However, Chang E only realised the Pill was turning her body extremely light before she floated in the air and rose up to the sky. She flew until she reached the Moon, where she lived forever deathlessly with immense loneliness and nostalgia.

This turned out to be one of the most appreciated mythologies in Chinese history. In Tang Dynasty, a famous poet, Li Shangyin (李商隐), wrote a poem to narrate the story: (the translation is not official)

云母屏风烛影深，长河渐落晓星沉。

嫦娥应悔偷灵药，碧海青天夜夜心。

On the mica screen is reflected the dark candle shadow,

The Milky Way inclines and the morning stars hang low.

Chang'e must regret stealing the pill of longevity,

Now she mopes alone night after night in the sky blue.

The mythologies about the Moon allows it to create an atmosphere of mystery, serenity and vastness. In the poem 春江花月夜 (A Moonlit Night On The Spring River) by Zhang Ruoxu (张若虚), a poet in Tang Dynasty, the first sentence was:

春江潮水连海平，海上明月共潮生。

In spring the river rises as high as the sea,

And with the river's rise the moon uprises bright.

This sentence developed a serenaded and vast atmosphere for the whole poem, which was rather effective in bringing out the nostalgic thoughts expressed by the poet.

Since the Moon projected a serenaded scene that was emotionally resonant to the reader, it was frequently used to express a reminiscent nostalgia along with the sadness. A poem which even a pre-primary child can fluently recite, 静夜思 (A Tranquil Night) by Li Bai (李白), who is famous as "the poet of celestial being", has been the most classical Chinese poem ever.

床前明月光，疑是地上霜。

举头望明月，低头思故乡。

Abed, I see a silver light;

I wonder if it's frost aground.

Looking up, I find the moon bright;

Bowing, in homesickness I'm drowned.

Another typical and classical poem with the Moon as a symbol of a longing of families would be 望月怀远 (Looking at the Moon and Longing for One Far Away):

海上生明月，天涯共此时。

情人怨遥夜，竟夕起相思。

灭烛怜光满，披衣觉露滋。

不堪盈手赠，还寝梦佳期。

Over the sea glows the moon bright;

We gaze on it far, far apart.

Lovers complain for long, long night;

They rise and long for the dear heart.

Candle blown out, fuller is light;

My coat put on, I'm moist with dew.

As I can't hand you moonbeams white,

I go to bed to dream of you.

Also, the Mid-autumn Festival has been inspiring poets over thousands of years to express their nostalgia and longing of families. There're countless poems in China's history written for Mid-autumn Festival. However, the most splendid and exquisite and epic Mid-autumn poem did not appear until one of the greatest litterateurs in Ancient China, Su Shi (苏轼), wrote the almost heavenly poem ever, 水调歌头·明月几时有 (Prelude to Water Melody) under extreme wish to see his families. This poem has been crazily praised even till today. It was once remarked as "ever since Su Shi's work, all other Mid-autumn poems have become illiterate writings."

明月几时有，把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年？我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人间。        转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。不应有缺，何事长向别时圆？人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

How rare the moon, so round and clear!

With cup in hand, I ask of the blue sky,

"I do not know in the celestial sphere

What name this festive night goes by?"

I want to fly home, riding the air,

But fear the ethereal cold up there,

The jade and crystal mansions are so high!

Dancing to my shadow,

I feel no longer the mortal tie.

She rounds the vermilion tower,

Stoops to silk-pad doors,

Shines on those who sleepless lie.

Why does she, bearing us no grudge,

Shine upon our parting, reunion deny?

But rare is perfect happiness--

The moon does wax, the moon does wane,

And so men meet and say goodbye.

I only pray our life be long,

And our souls together heavenward fly!