Mid-Autumn Festival, the Day of Reunion 中秋節，團圓日

龍菲

中秋節，又稱祭月節、團圓節等，是中國的傳統節日。它的起源可追溯到三千多年前，同時也伴有廣泛流傳的神話故事。

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.

中秋節是中國最重要的傳統節日之一。人們在農歷八月十五這一天慶祝中秋節。對中國人來說，這是家庭團圓日。中秋節那天，家人們聚在一起吃飯，晚上吃月餅、賞月。

中秋節的起源

中秋節有三千多年歷史，最早可追溯到商代時人們對月亮的崇拜。因為中秋節的重要地位，歷代詩人都會為中秋節寫詩。關于中秋節的故事、傳奇在民間廣為流傳，中秋節的起源也被歷代中國人探究。

“中秋”一詞最早出現在戰國時期《周禮》一書中，但是該詞只和時間、季節有關，當時還沒有中秋節。

唐代時賞月風靡，詩人在賞月之時佳作連連。據傳，唐玄宗曾在夢中到了月宮并聽到了優美的歌聲。

北宋時期，農歷八月十五才被正式確立為中秋節。從那以后，祭拜月亮盛行，并成為風俗。

至明清時，中秋節已成為我國的主要節日之一。

中秋節最早可能是一個慶祝豐收的節日。后來，嫦娥奔月的故事賦予了它神話色彩。

關于中秋節的傳說

傳說，天上曾有 10 個太陽。一天，這 10 個太陽同時出現，酷熱難擋。厲害的弓箭手后翌射下了其中 9 個太陽，拯救了地球上的生靈。他為此得到了“長生不老”藥，卻被妻子嫦娥吃下了。

嫦娥服下“長生不老”藥后身體飄離地面，一直飛到了月宮，還抓了玉兔做伴。從此她“長生不老”，但與丈夫永遠分離。所以說在中秋節這天抬頭望月，有時能看到兔子在搗“長生不老”藥。

水調歌頭

蘇軾

明月幾時有？把酒問青天。不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年。我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人間。

轉朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠。不應有恨，何事長向別時圓？人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。但愿人長久，千里共嬋娟。

Prelude to Water Melody

許淵沖譯

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.