A Moon-night Walk at Chengtian Temple
Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo')
English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Nov. 2024)
It was late at night on October 12, my 4th year here at Huangzhou. I was about to undress for bed when the beaming moonlight streamed in through the window. A refreshing chemistry started to boil, yearning for a moon-night walk with a heart friend. And my feet took me to Chengtian Temple for Zhang Huanmin who happened to be there as if expecting my presence. So, together we stepped into the floodlit courtyard which was already transformed into a shimmering pool of algae strangled with water nymphs as in a crystal dream world. I shook myself for a closer look only to find it was just the reflection of the surrounding bamboo and pine trees. … …
Alas, the moon is up there every night, and so are the bamboos and pine trees everywhere. What’s fairly rare is the sight of two stranglers roaming the temple at midnight.
Notes:
1. Chengtian Temple: The historical site today is in the south of Huangzhou, Hubei Province.
2. Zhang Huaimin: social names Woquan and Mengde, a native of Qinghe, Hebei. He was a close friend and a follower of Su Shi, and, like many of his other followers, was also banished to Huangzhou where he stayed in Chengtian Temple for six years. Su Shi wrote another famous ci poem for him – “To Zhang Woquan at the Bracing Pavilion of Huangzhou”《水调歌头.黄州快哉亭赠张偓佺》 https://www.rhymesandvibes.com/post/to-zhang-woquan-at-the-bracing-pavilion-of-huangzhou-1
This 84-word short sketch has been included in Chinese school book and many young Chinese can still recite it this day. It was written in 1083 (the sixth year of Yuanfeng, the year name of Song emperor Shenzong Zhao). Dongpo was still on parole of an indefinite period. While many other famous figures would write poems to express their depressed sentiments, Dongpo would always find his strength to accept anything coming his way and transcend beyond to a new spiritual level. Hardship not only made him stronger but also cultivated his character towards a broader mind and a freer spirit with a Daoist sense of humour which in turn invited more followers in the political realm as well as in the commoners’ world.
What I love about him, compared with other politicians and poets, is that he could always find fun or some form of satisfaction no matter what unbearable situation his political rivals put him in. Su Shi, as his first wife commented, didn’t see an enemy in anyone. Here in this desolate place he was again rich in friendship and contented with what Mother Natures offered him. The only regret was that they were supposed to be fully occupied with official duties for the country, but were arranged to enjoy such a long leisure time! Well, he didn’t know then the forthcoming assignment would put him to a high post near the throne, and all his followers would flock back to the capital soon after.
记承天寺夜游 (日记）
原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋）
元丰六年十月十二日夜，解衣欲睡，月色入户，欣然起行。念无与为乐者，遂至承天寺寻张怀民。怀民亦未寝，相与步于中庭。庭下如积水空明，水中藻、荇交横，盖竹柏影也。何夜无月？何处无竹柏？但少闲人如吾两人者耳。
Reference:
baike.baidu.com（百度百科）
百度百科.TA说 -- “脑洞趣味历史”
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