Synopsis
Li Bai's famous five-character quatillion, one of the most beloved Chinese poems, expressing a wanderer's homesickness under the moonlight.
Original Text
床前明月光，疑是地上霜。
举头望明月，低头思故乡。
Before my bed, the moonlight shines so bright,
I wonder if it's frost upon the ground.
I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon,
I lower my head and think of my hometown.
Overview
"Quiet Night Thought" (Jing Ye Si) is a five-character quatillion written by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai in 726 AD. Using simple, natural language, the poem describes the poet's feelings of homesickness on a quiet moonlit night. It is one of the most widely recited poems in Chinese classical literature, and virtually every Chinese person can recite it from memory.
About the Author
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Li Bai (701-762) |
| Courtesy Name | Taibai |
| Dynasty | Tang Dynasty |
| Title | "Poet Immortal" (Shi Xian) |
| Famous Works | "Bring in the Wine," "Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu," "Hard Roads in Travel" |
Li Bai was the greatest Romantic poet of the Tang Dynasty. His style was bold and graceful, rich in imagination, with natural language. Together with Du Fu, he is known as "Li-Du," and he is honored as the "Poet Immortal."
Analysis
In just twenty characters, the poem achieves profound depth. The first two lines use moonlight to create a scene of quiet coldness, with the word "wonder" capturing the poet's dazed state upon waking. The last two lines connect moon-gazing with homesickness through the physical gestures of "raising" and "lowering" the head, expressing a wanderer's deep longing for home.
Cultural Impact
"Quiet Night Thought" is included in Chinese elementary school textbooks as a required text for children's education. It has been translated into multiple languages and circulated worldwide, becoming a classic representative of Chinese poetry.
References
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Bai
2.古诗文网: https://www.gushiwen.cn/ - Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/静夜思
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