Mastering Chinese Poetry- Looking at the moon and longing for loved ones far away 望月怀远

#midautumnfestival #Culture #China
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth month on Chinese lunar calendar when the moon is at its fullest and brightest at night. This is a Chinese traditional holiday that celebrates the full moon, a good harvest, and family unity.

In ancient times, people were easily separated by distance, and a holiday that celebrated unity inevitably stirred up people's longing for their loved ones. Today, we share the same yearning as depicted by Tang-dynasty poet Zhang Jiuling 张九龄 in his masterpiece Looking at the moon and longing for loved ones far away 《望月怀远》.

hǎi shàng shēng míng yuè
海上生明月，
Over the sea grows the moon bright;

tiān yá gòng cǐ shí
天涯共此时。
We gaze on it far, far apart.