Shuidiao Getou (traditional Chinese: 水調歌頭; simplified Chinese: 水调歌头; pinyin: Shuǐdiào Gētóu) is the name of a traditional Chinese melody to which a poem in the cí style can be sung. Different poets have written different lyrics to the melody which are usually prefixed by this melody's title, the Song dynasty poet Su Shi's work "Shuǐdiào Gētóu – Míngyuè Jǐshíyǒu " (水調歌頭·明月幾時有) being one of the most famous.
Cí (詞) is one of the literary genres that are unique to the Song dynasty, and can be sung to melody. Many ancient melodies are lost to history, but modern composers often compose new melodies for cí.
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Having been drinking happily over night I'm drunk So I write this poem Remembering my brother, Zi You
明月幾時有？
把酒問青天。 不知天上宮闕5， 今夕是何年？
When will the moon be clear and bright?
With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the clear sky. In the heavens on this night, I wonder what season it would be?
我欲乘風歸去，
又恐瓊樓玉宇6， 高處不勝寒。 起舞弄清影7， 何似在人間8！
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 moonlit shadow, It does not seem like the human world.
轉朱閣9，
低綺戶10， 照無眠11。 不應有恨， 何事長向別時圓？
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?
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12。
People experience sorrow, joy, separation and reunion,
The moon may be dim or bright, round or crescent shaped, This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time. May we all be blessed with longevity, Though thousands of miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.
Notes on the poem
Characters
Pinyin
Jyutping
Explanation
1.
水調歌頭
shuǐdiào gētóu
seoi2diu6 go1tau4
The name of a tune.
2.
丙辰
bǐngchén
bing2san4
the ninth year of the reign of Song Emperor Shenzong (1076 C.E.), when Su Shi served as magistrate in Mi Prefecture, present-day Zhucheng county-level city in Shandong Province.
3.
中秋
zhōngqiū
zung1cau1
the Mid-Autumn Festival, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month (lunar calendar); a traditional Chinese holiday when people gather to enjoy the moon, drink wine, and eat moon cakes.
4.
懷
huái
waai4
to think of, miss.
子由
Zǐyóu
Zi2jau4
Su Zhe, courtesy name Ziyou, Su Shi's younger brother, also a famous author; at this time Su Zhe was in Jinan, Su Shi in Mi Prefecture; the brothers had not seen each other for seven years.
5.
宮闕
gōngquè
gung1kyut3
a spectacular palace.
6.
瓊樓玉宇
qiónglóu-yùyǔ
king4lau4-juk6jyu5
a building made of beautiful jade, here, the Moon Palace.
7.
弄
nòng
nung6
to play, to sport; here, "to dance".
清影
qīng yǐng
cing1 jing2
crisp, cold shadow in the moonlight.
8.
何似
hé sì
ho4 ci5
how can it compare to...
9.
朱閣
zhū gé
zyu1 gok3
a red pavilion.
10.
綺戶
qǐ hù
ji2 wu6
a door or window with carved patterns and designs.
11.
無眠
wú mián
mou4 min4
sleepless; here, refers to a sleepless person.
12.
嬋娟
chánjuān
sim4gyun1
may refer to either Chang'e, the goddess of the moon, or simply the moon itself.
In popular culture
In 1983, Liang Hong Zhi (梁弘誌) set Su's poem to new music as the song "Danyuan ren changjiu" (但願人長久; translated "Wishing We Last Forever" or "Always Faithful"[1]). This new setting was recorded by Teresa Teng in her album dandan youqing (淡淡幽情), which also contained songs based on other poems from the Tang and Song dynasties. Later artists such as Faye Wong, Jacky Cheung and China Flowers (芳華十八) covered this song in albums and concerts.
Other uses
Mao's poem "Swimming" inscribed on a monument in Wuhan
In June 1956, Mao Zedong wrote the poem "Shuǐdiào Gētóu – Swimming" (水調歌頭·游泳) which is also rhymed to the tune of Shuǐdiào Gētóu.[2]
References
^Lee, Vico (6 February 2004). "Faithful to a classic: Teresa Teng". Taipei Times.
shuidiao, getou, traditional, chinese, 水調歌頭, simplified, chinese, 水调歌头, pinyin, shuǐdiào, gētóu, name, traditional, chinese, melody, which, poem, style, sung, different, poets, have, written, different, lyrics, melody, which, usually, prefixed, this, melody, t. Shuidiao Getou traditional Chinese 水調歌頭 simplified Chinese 水调歌头 pinyin Shuǐdiao Getou is the name of a traditional Chinese melody to which a poem in the ci style can be sung Different poets have written different lyrics to the melody which are usually prefixed by this melody s title the Song dynasty poet Su Shi s work Shuǐdiao Getou Mingyue Jǐshiyǒu 水調歌頭 明月幾時有 being one of the most famous Ci 詞 is one of the literary genres that are unique to the Song dynasty and can be sung to melody Many ancient melodies are lost to history but modern composers often compose new melodies for ci Contents 1 Text of Su s poem 2 Notes on the poem 3 In popular culture 4 Other uses 5 References 6 External linksText of Su s poem Edit Su Shi See also Su Shi Poetry This section is a candidate to be copied to Wikisource If the section can be edited into encyclopedic content rather than merely a copy of the source text please do so and remove this message Otherwise you can help by formatting it per the Wikisource guidelines in preparation for the duplication Original text in traditional Chinese English translation水調歌頭1 Water Melody丙辰2中秋3 歡飲達旦 大醉 作此篇 兼懷子由4 Mid autumn of the Bing Chen year Having been drinking happily over night I m drunk So I write this poem Remembering my brother Zi You明月幾時有 把酒問青天 不知天上宮闕5 今夕是何年 When will the moon be clear and bright With a cup of wine in my hand I ask the clear sky In the heavens on this night I wonder what season it would be 我欲乘風歸去 又恐瓊樓玉宇6 高處不勝寒 起舞弄清影7 何似在人間8 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 moonlit shadow It does not seem like the human world 轉朱閣9 低綺戶10 照無眠11 不應有恨 何事長向別時圓 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 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12 People experience sorrow joy separation and reunion The moon may be dim or bright round or crescent shaped This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time May we all be blessed with longevity Though thousands of miles apart we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together Notes on the poem Edit Characters Pinyin Jyutping Explanation1 水調歌頭 shuǐdiao getou seoi2diu6 go1tau4 The name of a tune 2 丙辰 bǐngchen bing2san4 the ninth year of the reign of Song Emperor Shenzong 1076 C E when Su Shi served as magistrate in Mi Prefecture present day Zhucheng county level city in Shandong Province 3 中秋 zhōngqiu zung1cau1 the Mid Autumn Festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month lunar calendar a traditional Chinese holiday when people gather to enjoy the moon drink wine and eat moon cakes 4 懷 huai waai4 to think of miss 子由 Zǐyou Zi2jau4 Su Zhe courtesy name Ziyou Su Shi s younger brother also a famous author at this time Su Zhe was in Jinan Su Shi in Mi Prefecture the brothers had not seen each other for seven years 5 宮闕 gōngque gung1kyut3 a spectacular palace 6 瓊樓玉宇 qionglou yuyǔ king4lau4 juk6jyu5 a building made of beautiful jade here the Moon Palace 7 弄 nong nung6 to play to sport here to dance 清影 qing yǐng cing1 jing2 crisp cold shadow in the moonlight 8 何似 he si ho4 ci5 how can it compare to 9 朱閣 zhu ge zyu1 gok3 a red pavilion 10 綺戶 qǐ hu ji2 wu6 a door or window with carved patterns and designs 11 無眠 wu mian mou4 min4 sleepless here refers to a sleepless person 12 嬋娟 chanjuan sim4gyun1 may refer to either Chang e the goddess of the moon or simply the moon itself In popular culture EditIn 1983 Liang Hong Zhi 梁弘誌 set Su s poem to new music as the song Danyuan ren changjiu 但願人長久 translated Wishing We Last Forever or Always Faithful 1 This new setting was recorded by Teresa Teng in her album dandan youqing 淡淡幽情 which also contained songs based on other poems from the Tang and Song dynasties Later artists such as Faye Wong Jacky Cheung and China Flowers 芳華十八 covered this song in albums and concerts Other uses Edit Mao s poem Swimming inscribed on a monument in Wuhan In June 1956 Mao Zedong wrote the poem Shuǐdiao Getou Swimming 水調歌頭 游泳 which is also rhymed to the tune of Shuǐdiao Getou 2 References Edit Lee Vico 6 February 2004 Faithful to a classic Teresa Teng Taipei Times Swimming External links EditOriginal Chinese poem at Project Gutenberg English translation by Qiu Xiaolong 鄧麗君 但願人長久 live on YouTube 王菲 但願人長久 on YouTube Portals Music Poetry China Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shuidiao Getou amp oldid 1084370520 Modern settings, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
