The Moon Rose From the Sea
- Poetry of Zhang Jiuling

《望月怀远》
The Moon Rose From the Sea by Zhang Jiuling
English Translation

The moon rose from the sea,

it's when we both yearned each other.

What a long night we sighed,

just kept thinking of the love we've had.

Turned out the candle light,i walked under the moonshine.

Wore the silky shirt,i felt the dew sleep on my shoulders.

Sorry,baby,i couldn't scissor a piece of moonshine to you,

just wished we could encounter each other in the beautiful dream.

Composed during the High Tang period while Zhang Jiuling served as chancellor, this poem uses the moon as a lyrical motif to express profound yearning. While ostensibly about missing distant loved ones, its deeper currents reveal the poet's concerns for ideals, kindred spirits, sovereign, and national destiny. The title's "longing afar" encompasses both specific individuals and lofty aspirations, with moonlight illuminating the poem's emotional depth.

中文原文( Chinese )

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。

- Last updated: 2025-09-18 17:32:46
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Why Chinese poems is so special?
The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
How to read a Chinese poem?
Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

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