Li Ruozhong (Lei Jo Chung) 李若中
Li Ruozhong's piece has been arranged to form an image of the moon, which figures so heavily in Su Shih's poem.
Creator.Personal Name: Li Ruozhong
Creator.Role: calligrapher.
Title: [Quotation from a Poem by Su Dongpo: last 5 lines]
Description: hanging scroll; ink on paper; cursive/clerical script; signed by the artist; three artist's seals.
Type: Calligraphy--Chinese.
Type: Scroll (Visual work)--Chinese.
Style.Period: Contemporary.
Culture: Chinese.
Material.Medium: ink.
Material.Support: paper.
Measurements: 23 x 37 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Quotation from "Song by the River," by Su Dongpo—a.k.a. Su Shi—1037-1101 C.E., Song Dynasty:
Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?
People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart
The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane
This has been going on since the beginning of time
May we all be blessed with longevity
Though far apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.
人有悲歡離合
月有陰晴圓缺
此事古難全
但願人長久
千里共嬋娟
When will the moon be
clear and bright?
With a cup of wine in my hand,
I ask the blue sky
I don't know what season it would be
In the heavens on this night
I'd like to ride the wind to fly home
Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions
are much too high and cold for me
Dancing with my moon-lit shadow
It does not seem like the human world.
The moon rounds the red mansion
Stoops to silk-pad doors
Shines upon the sleepless
Bearing no grudge
Why does the moon tend to be full
when people are apart?
People may have sorrow or joy,
be near or far apart
The moon may be dim or bright,
wax or wane
This has been going on
since the beginning of time
May we all be blessed with longevity
Though far apart, we are still able to share
the beauty of the moon together.
Poem written during the night
of the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1076
by Su Dongpo
(Translated by Shun-Yi Lee in 1998)
明月幾時有
把酒問青天
不如天上宮闕
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
但願人長久
千里共嬋娟