Скачать или смотреть Why We Look at the Moon: The Story of Su Shi’s Mid-Autumn Masterpiece

The Most Famous Mid-Autumn Poem in History In this video, we explore the definitive poem of the Mid-Autumn Festival: Su Shi's Shuidiao Getou (Water Tune Song Head). Written during the Song Dynasty, this masterpiece explores the tension between fantasy and reality, and the deep longing for family. Critics have historically claimed that once this poem was written, all other Mid-Autumn songs became obsolete.
📜 Historical Context: A Night of Wine and Longing The poem was written in 1076 (the year Bingchen in the Song Dynasty) when Su Shi was serving as the governor of Mizhou. The prologue tells us exactly how it happened: Su Shi drank happily until dawn, became thoroughly intoxicated, and wrote this piece to express his longing for his younger brother, Su Zhe (Ziyou), whom he had not seen in seven years. At the time, Su Shi was politically isolated, having requested a transfer away from the capital due to disagreements with the reformer Wang Anshi.
🌙 Key Themes & Analysis
• The Question to the Sky: The poem begins with a "ferocious" question—"When did the bright moon first appear?"—showing a spirit similar to the poet Li Bai. Su Shi imagines returning to the moon, treating the heavens as a friend he can toast with wine.
• Fantasy vs. Reality: Su Shi expresses a desire to "ride the wind" back to the celestial palace but fears the "Jade Towers" (Qionglou Yuyu) would be too cold and unbearable at such heights. He ultimately decides that dancing with his shadow in the human world is better than the loneliness of immortality.
• Acceptance of Imperfection: The poet famously concludes that just as the moon has its cycles of waxing and waning, humans must endure separation and reunion. He realizes that perfection is rarely achieved in this life.
💡 Famous Lines Explained
• "I desire to ride the wind and return home, yet I fear the crystal towers and jade palaces; the heights are too cold to bear."
• "We only wish for longevity, sharing the graceful moonlight (Chan Juan) though miles apart."
👨‍🎨 About the Author: Su Shi (Su Dongpo) Su Shi (1037–1101) was a literary giant, calligrapher, and painter of the Northern Song Dynasty. Known for his open-minded and optimistic style, he often blended Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist philosophies to navigate his political frustrations. Along with his father Su Xun and brother Su Zhe, they are known as the "Three Sus".