Tonight is a very special night in China: the Midautumn Festival, celebrating the fullest moon (the harvest moon) of the year. Besides viewing the moon, we eat these pastries called mooncakes and recite poetry.
In ancient times, the moon was an incredibly important symbol because the poets were wanderers far from their homes. Seeing the moon wax and wane every so often was like a reminder of the times where they would come back to visit and then go away again to wander. It is both a hopeful sign and a regretful sign.
Here's a poem by one of my favorite of these wandering poets, Su Shi, that I translated before. It is one of his most well known poems.
To the Tune of the Water Song Su Shi
How long has the moon been up there? Raising my winecup, I inquire of the night sky: In the halls and palaces of heaven, What year has come upon us?
I wish I could ride the wind to the heavens To make my home in those mansions of jade, But the chill would be unbearable. My shadow cavorts and dances in your pure beams, But how could it compare to that world of yours?
Encircling the red pavilions, Dipping through the lattices, It shines on the sleepless. Surely you bear us no ill will-- Why then are you so round in times of parting?
Humans have times of grief and joy, parting and reunion, As the moon has times of darkness and light, waxing and waning; Life has been hard since ancient days. My only wish is that we live long lives So that we may share the moon's beauty a thousand miles apart.
