
水調歌頭
A moonlit reverie unfolds as a wandering scholar lifts his cup, inviting the night sky into a heartfelt dialogue. The verses glide through mist‑cloaked rivers and rustling pavilions, blending the quiet ache of longing with the crisp clarity of nature’s reflections. Each line seems to paint a lantern‑lit pavilion where memories of distant homes and cherished companions linger like fragrant incense.
The poem moves from the gentle rustle of curtains at sunset to the sudden surge of waves that lift a solitary white‑crowned bird, capturing both tranquility and the restless pulse of adventure. It balances humor—teasing a youthful courtier’s misunderstanding of lofty philosophy—with a quiet, resilient spirit that steadies the heart against life’s inevitable winds. Listeners will feel the timeless echo of longing, celebration, and a shared yearning for unity across distance, all rendered in a voice that carries the soft cadence of ancient Chinese lyric.
Language
zh
Duration
~20 minutes (19K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Nov 2, 2008
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1037–1101
A giant of Song dynasty literature, this poet and essayist brought wit, warmth, and emotional range to everything from travel writing to political reflections. His work has stayed alive for centuries because it feels both deeply learned and strikingly human.
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