Moonlight on the West River—a Night Trip on Yellow Sand

Author: Xin Qiji (1140—1207)

The bright moon’s departure from trees disturbs magpies;

The crisp wind’s blow at night arouses cicadas.

The pleasant scent of rice paddies predicts a harvest

While I listen to frogs singing their cantatas.

Seven or eight stars appear in the sky;

Two or three raindrops fall in the mountains.

Beside an old cottage by the forest,

The road turns and immediately leads to a bridge over a creek with fountains.

Have you ever sat beside a lake in a rainy day? We may be very calm in a quiet and cool night, especially with some raindrops. Today let’s enter the atmosphere created by Xin Qiji, a famous poet in Chinese Literature and feel the summer.

Xin was born when the Jin Dynasty (1115—1234), established by a tribe from north of the Great Wall, occupied the northern half of the Song Dynasty’s territory. At age 22, Xin led a group of young men to rebel against the Jin Dynasty, and went south to join the military of the Song Dynasty, which kept the southern half of its territory. He devoted his life to helping the Southern Song Dynasty fight the Jin Dynasty, hoping to destroy Jin and rebuild Song in its lost territory, but this wish never came true.

Copyright: A Poetic Portal To Chinese Culture, China Pictorial Press

Photo/IC