Tang Dynasty · Nostalgia & Homesickness
Quiet Night Thought静夜思
By Li Bai (李白)
床前明月光，
疑是地上霜。
举头望明月，
低头思故乡。
Before my bed the bright moonlight streams down,
Almost as if silver frost lay upon the ground.
Raising my head, I gaze at the mountain moon;
Lowering my head, I dream of my native home.
Line-by-Line Study with Pinyin
Detailed study breakdown matching each verse with character pinyin and English phrasing.
Traditional Color: 月白
A pale, translucent shade of blue-white in traditional Chinese aesthetics, capturing the luminous clarity of moonlight falling softly on a traveler’s bed.
Cultural Context & Zen Lore
Li Bai (701–762), revered as the "Poet Immortal," wrote this while wandering far from his home province of Sichuan. In classical Chinese thought, the full moon symbolizes harmony and family reunion; gazing at the moon while far away creates an acute sense of isolation.
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