Aug 19, 2007

Listen to Shirley Singing the Poem in 2006
Following Shirley to Read the Poem
Shirley Created Picture for the Poem
Shirley Written Chinese Calligraphy for It
Learning the Meaning of the Poem

This week, when I would like to create a new painting and new calligraphy to match a Chinese classical poem, I thought of this poem. I had introduced it for you one year and 7 months ago on Jan and I had created a piece of music to match it then.

Today, when I re-listened to it and would like to re-record the music, I felt that the singing and music sounds like ok. Also, for it is the only music that I had used some foundation on my music instrument to match it. So, I would like to keep its original style there and hope you enjoy it. :-)

Shirley

Sun, August 19, 2007

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Hi, friends, today I would like to introduce a new Chinese classical poem Wang Yue Hua Yuan --Looking At The Moon And Thinking Of One Far AwayBy Tang Dynasty(A.D.618 - 907)poet Zhang Jiuling( A.D.673 - A.D.740). Zhang Jiuling was a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations in A.D.734, and be a prime minister in the prophase of Tang Dynasty. He was honest and dared to speak something true, also he insisted to use the talent people to be officials... So, he had a good reputation as a "virtuous prime minister” then.

He is one of the transition poets between prophase Tang Dynasty and Flourishing Tang Dynasty. He affected many later poets, such as Li Bai, Du Fu and so on... :-)

This poem was written when he was demote. It expresses the feelings that he missed his family or lover. The wonderful part of this poem is that he expressed the feelings to miss someone via the way to imagine how his family or lover was thinking of him, instead of saying how he miss her directly. :-)

I do enjoy the writing way and I have written, sung and played a piece of music for the poem and you and hope you enjoy it. :-)

MAIN MEANING OF THE POEM:

Looking At the Moon and Thinking of One Far Away

A bright moon is rising over the sea,
both of us are looking at her   
from far away sides at the same time.
I know you are sad for the night is too long,
to stay up for thinking of me for a white night

You has turned off the candle,
for you love the bright moonlight.
You is covering a coat
for you have felt the wet of dew.
You realize that you can not hold some moonlight to me,
so you decide to go back to sleep
and to wish us to meet each other in a sweet dream...


Attaching: A Version By Hubei Education College:

Look At the Moon and Think Of One Far Away

The moon, grown full now over the sea,
Brightening the whole of heaven,
Brings to separated hearts
The long thoughtfulness of night....
It is no darker though I blow out my candle.
It is no warmer though I put on my coat.
So I leave my message with the moon
And turn to my bed, hoping for dreams.

NEW WORDS

Note: Please hit any Chinese character that you need helped, to see its Chinese pinyin, pronunciation, meaning and follow me to read it.


CHINESE CHARACTERS AND PRONUNCIATION

望月怀远-- wàngyuè huái yuǎn

张九龄-- Zhāng Jǔlíng
     
海上生明月-- hǎishàng shēng míngyuè
天涯共 此时-- tiānyá gòng cǐshí
情人怨 遥夜-- qíngrén yuàn yáoyè
竟夕起相思-- jìngxī qǐ xiāngsī

灭烛怜光满-- miechu lian guang man
披衣觉露滋-- piyi jue luzi
不堪盈手赠-- bukan yingshou zen
还寝梦佳期-- huanqin meng jiaqi

If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn , or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are welcomed to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends as well. :-)   


--Shirley
Written and Recorded On Sun, Jan 22, 2006