Listen to Shirley Singing the Poem in Chinese Sep 2, 2013
Listen to Shirley Singing the Poem in English Sep 3, 2013
Listen to Shirley Explaining the Poem & Follow Me to Read It
Learn the Meaning of the Poem with Shirley Together
See Shirley's Painting for the Poem Sep 3, 2013
See Shirley's Painting for the Poem June 29, 2007

About the Poet – Miu Shi Zi

Miu is a Chinese surname. Shi is also a Chinese surname, but it belongs to the first surname. Miu Shi means   “ a family that has a surname Miu ” . Zi means child or son. So, this poem was written by a child / a son from a family that had a surname Miu in Tang Dynasty.

Miu Shi Zi lived in the times of Kaiyuan (713 - 741), Tang Dynasty. He was very intelligent at a very young age, so that when he was just 7 years old, he was called by the emperor to test his talent in the imperial palace. Then he made this poem, and got the good comment of the Emperor Tang Xuanzong.

But there is no any detail biographical record on the author in the Chinese history.

Enjoy the Poem

This poem sings a new moon in the sky. With a simple language, it wishes people do not think the new moon is too small at this time, when the fifteen has come, it will become round and to light up all over the world.

Via working on ode to the little new moon, this poem expresses the great ideal of the young poet.

On surface, it is singing the new moon; in fact, it has expressed the little poet's lofty aspiration -- do not see I am so young as the little new moon at this time, when I have grown up, I will create a big career to light up the world, just like the round moon on the fifteen day, to benefit people and the world.

On writing, it has taken the advantage of a scene to express the poet's emotion, via endowing the nature thing an idea, to express the little poet's great spirit.

Whole of the poem is full of the positive and confidence. So, it is popular in China and be chose for children.


Translation of the Poem

Ode to the New Moon

by Miu Shi Zi (Tang Dynasty)

The little new moon (ah) is like an undrawn bow (ya),
Clearly, it is hanging in the blue sky.
People should not say it is too small as an pretty eyebrow.
It will be round & light up the world in the fifteen night.

Chinese Characters & Pronunciation

You can click on any Chinese Character to open the New Character Board and to see its Chinese pinyin, meaning, pronunciation and follow me to read it,   you can also click the links over to enter the Painting Column,or you can directly enter the art notes on the painting that I created for this poem to see my painting and art notes for the poem

赋新月
     
缪氏子 （唐）

初月如弓未上弦，
分明挂在碧霄边。
时人莫道蛾眉小，
三五团圆照满天。


Inspiration:

It is said that Yi Xiao Jian Da -- a good art work should be able to express a wide view in a small confined space. Via the little poem, we have seen the great atmosphere in the Glorious Age of Tang Dynasty already. A so young child had this kind of great dream, let alone the general literary men. Right?

Anyway, today, when I re-read this little poem, really some new idea jumps into my mind. Even thought I have had finished my career in Chinese classical literature and China's securities information fields, and studied traditional Chinese painting, music and worked on the cross-culture and comprehensive art project for 12 years, I am just a beginner on the long road to learn the great and profound Chinese culture. Just like the little and new moon in the poem.

Even though I am just setting off and this project is quite difficult, as long as I keep doing on it, there will be certainly a day, I am going out of the clouds and become a round moon as the little moon in the poem, to help this world with what I have created and done.

With an admired heart, I created a piece of music and a painting for the poem in 2007. This week, I re-wrote the music, re-painted the painting and re-wrote the article.

I do hope what I have done will be a little bit help with you to learn Chinese culture and language.


If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn ; you are welcome to publish your opinions in Message Board as well.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Wrote, Painted, Translated, Sang & Recorded the Content Sep 7, 2013/ June 29, 2007