Analysis of "水调歌头" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The poem Shui Diao Ge Tou (水调歌头) is one of the most famous works by Su Shi (苏轼), also known as Su Dongpo (苏东坡), a towering figure of the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD). Written in 1076 during the Mid-Autumn Festival, this lyrical masterpiece blends philosophical reflection with deep emotion, expressing longing for family, the passage of time, and the beauty of the moon—a central symbol in Chinese poetry.

Su Shi composed this poem while politically exiled, adding layers of melancholy and resilience. It remains one of China’s most celebrated poems, admired for its lyrical beauty and universal themes.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

Title:

水调歌头
Shuǐ Diào Gē Tóu
"Prelude to Water Melody"

Poem Text:

明月几时有？
Míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu?
How rare the clear moon, shining so bright!

把酒问青天。
Bǎ jiǔ wèn qīng tiān.
With winecup in hand, I ask the blue sky.

不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年？
Bù zhī tiān shàng gōng què, jīn xī shì hé nián?
In the celestial palaces up on high, what year is it tonight?

我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。
Wǒ yù chéng fēng guī qù, yòu kǒng qióng lóu yù yǔ, gāo chù bù shèng hán.
I long to ride the wind and return there, yet dread those crystal towers, those jade halls—so cold, so high.

起舞弄清影，何似在人间？
Qǐ wǔ nòng qīng yǐng, hé sì zài rén jiān?
I rise and dance, playing with my shadow—how unlike the mortal world!

转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。
Zhuǎn zhū gé, dī qǐ hù, zhào wú mián.
The moon rounds the crimson tower, dips through silk-curtained windows, shines on the sleepless.

不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？
Bù yīng yǒu hèn, hé shì cháng xiàng bié shí yuán?
O Moon, why so full when loved ones are apart?

人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。
Rén yǒu bēi huān lí hé, yuè yǒu yīn qíng yuán quē, cǐ shì gǔ nán quán.
Men know joy and sorrow, parting and reunion; the moon knows waning and waxing, brightness and gloom. Since olden days, perfection has been rare.

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
Dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān.
May we live long and share the moon’s beauty, though a thousand miles apart.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "明月几时有？把酒问青天。"
   The poem opens with a direct question to the heavens, blending cosmic wonder with personal introspection. The moon symbolizes both constancy and change, a recurring theme in Chinese poetry.

2. "不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年？"
   Su Shi imagines the celestial realm, reflecting Daoist influences where immortals dwell. His question about time suggests a longing for transcendence.

3. "我欲乘风归去…高处不胜寒。"
   The poet wavers between escapism and earthly attachment. The "jade halls" represent an idealized but lonely immortality, contrasting with human warmth.

4. "起舞弄清影，何似在人间？"
   Dancing with his shadow, Su Shi embraces solitude yet affirms life’s fleeting beauty—a moment of Daoist spontaneity.

5. "转朱阁…照无眠。"
   The moon’s movement mirrors human restlessness, illuminating those awake with longing (likely Su Shi’s brother, whom he missed deeply).

6. "不应有恨…别时圆？"
   A rhetorical lament: the moon’s fullness feels cruel during separation, personifying nature as both indifferent and poignant.

7. "人有悲欢离合…古难全。"
   Here, Su Shi reconciles with life’s imperfections, drawing parallels between human emotions and the moon’s phases—a core tenet of Chinese philosophy (accepting cyclical change).

8. "但愿人长久…共婵娟。"
   The closing lines offer a timeless wish: connection despite distance. "婵娟" (chánjuān), an elegant term for the moon, embodies shared beauty and hope.

Themes and Symbolism

1. The Moon (月)
   - Represents reunion (Mid-Autumn Festival tradition), cosmic harmony, and the passage of time.
   - Its "waning and waxing" mirrors life’s ups and downs.

2. Longing and Acceptance
   - The tension between desire (to reunite, to transcend) and reality (exile, impermanence).
   - Reflects Confucian familial piety and Daoist detachment.

3. Nature’s Indifference vs. Human Emotion
   - The moon shines impartially, yet humans project their grief onto it—a classic lyrical technique.

Cultural Context

• Mid-Autumn Festival: This poem is often recited during the festival, when families reunite under the full moon.
• Song Dynasty Literati Culture: Exiled officials like Su Shi turned to poetry as emotional and philosophical solace.
• Influence of Daoism: The poem’s balance—between yearning and contentment—echoes wu wei (effortless action).

Conclusion

Shui Diao Ge Tou is a masterpiece of emotional depth and philosophical grace. Su Shi transforms personal sorrow into universal wisdom, reminding us that while life is imperfect, beauty persists in shared moments—even across distance. Its closing lines, "May we live long and share the moon’s beauty," resonate as deeply today as they did a millennium ago, bridging cultures and time.

For English readers, this poem offers a window into Chinese thought: the art of finding harmony amid life’s inevitable fractures.