Mid-Autumn Festival, the Day of Reunion 中秋节，团圆日

龙菲

中秋节，又称祭月节、团圆节等，是中国的传统节日。它的起源可追溯到三千多年前，同时也伴有广泛流传的神话故事。

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is celebrated on August 15th of the lunar year. It's a family 1）reunion day for Chinese people. Families have dinner together on this day. People eat mooncakes and appreciate the full moon on that night.

The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival has a history of over 3，000 years， dating back to moon 2）worship in the Shang Dynasty. It's such an important festival that many poems were written about it. Stories and legends about the festival are 3）widespread， and its origins have been guessed at and explained by generations of Chinese.

The term “Mid-Autumn” first appeared in the book Rites of Zhou， written in the Warring States Period. But the term only related to the time and season and the festival didn't exist at that point.

In the Tang Dynasty， it was popular to appreciate the moon. Many poets liked to create poems related to the moon when appreciating it. There is a legend that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty visited the Moon Palace in his dream and heard a wonderful song.

In the Northern Song Dynasty， the 15th day of the 8th lunar month was established as the “Mid-Autumn Festival”. From then on， 4）sacrificing to the moon was very popular， and has become a custom ever since.

In the Ming and Qing Dynasties， it grew to be a major festival of China.

The Mid-Autumn Festival probably began as a harvest festival. The festival was later given a mythological flavour with legends of Chang'e， the beautiful lady on the moon.

Legend about the Mid-Autumn Festival

According to Chinese mythology， the earth once had 10 suns circling over it. One day， all 10 suns appeared together， 5）scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved when a strong archer， Hou Yi， succeeded in shooting down 9 of the suns. Yi was awarded the 6）elixir of life to save the people， but his wife， Chang'e drank it.

After swallowing the elixir， Chang'e found herself floating to the sky. She grabbed a rabbit to keep her company， and finally landed on the moon. She then became immortal， but separated from her husband forever. So we say that if you look up at the moon on this day， you can sometimes see a rabbit making elixir.

中秋節是中国最重要的传统节日之一。人们在农历八月十五这一天庆祝中秋节。对中国人来说，这是家庭团圆日。中秋节那天，家人们聚在一起吃饭，晚上吃月饼、赏月。

中秋节的起源

中秋节有三千多年历史，最早可追溯到商代时人们对月亮的崇拜。因为中秋节的重要地位，历代诗人都会为中秋节写诗。关于中秋节的故事、传奇在民间广为流传，中秋节的起源也被历代中国人探究。

“中秋”一词最早出现在战国时期《周礼》一书中，但是该词只和时间、季节有关，当时还没有中秋节。

唐代时赏月风靡，诗人在赏月之时佳作连连。据传，唐玄宗曾在梦中到了月宫并听到了优美的歌声。

北宋时期，农历八月十五才被正式确立为中秋节。从那以后，祭拜月亮盛行，并成为风俗。

至明清时，中秋节已成为我国的主要节日之一。

中秋节最早可能是一个庆祝丰收的节日。后来，嫦娥奔月的故事赋予了它神话色彩。

关于中秋节的传说

传说，天上曾有 10 个太阳。一天，这 10 个太阳同时出现，酷热难挡。厉害的弓箭手后翌射下了其中 9 个太阳，拯救了地球上的生灵。他为此得到了“长生不老”药，却被妻子嫦娥吃下了。

嫦娥服下“长生不老”药后身体飘离地面，一直飞到了月宫，还抓了玉兔做伴。从此她“长生不老”，但与丈夫永远分离。所以说在中秋节这天抬头望月，有时能看到兔子在捣“长生不老”药。

水调歌头

苏轼

明月几时有？把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年。我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人间。

转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？人有悲欢离合，月有陰晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

Prelude to Water Melody

许渊冲译

How long will the full moon appear？

Wine cup in hand， I ask the sky.

I do not know what time of the year.

'Twould be tonight in the palace on high.

Riding the wind， there I would fly，

Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be

Too high and cold for me.

I rise and dance， with my shadow I play.

On high as on earth， would it be as gay？

The moon goes round the mansions red

Through gauze-draped window soft to shed.

Her light upon the sleepless bed.

Why then when people part， is the oft full and bright？

Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;

The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.

There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.

So let us wish that man

Will live long as he can！

Though miles apart， we'll share the beauty she displays.