Mid-Autumn - A Time for Hope and Realism

Every year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month on the Chinese Lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by most Chinese worldwide. 

Today (21 September 2021) is the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates a melancholic, often heart-breaking, review of life’s capriciousness, and the unpredictable fortunes of mankind.  Tonight, the moon is said to be at her brightest and roundest, reflecting the glorious cosmos and foretells the wondrous infinity of hope.    

Gazing at the full moon, the great Chinese poet, Su Shi, of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) reminiscences in remembrance of his very close brother back in their home village whom he has not seen for 5 years.  He recalled the ups and downs of his life and yearns for their reunion. As a consolation, he knew that wherever his brother may be, they can “share the beauty (the moon) displays”.

The poet knows that the moon will not always be so round and so bright, ever since the beginning of time.  For him, the waxing and waning moon is the mirror of the permanent changing patterns of life. The ever-returning Mid-Autumn Festival rings the hope of reunion even as it recollects the memories of nostalgic moments; of pain and regrets, of joy and happiness, of fortunes lost and loved ones gone, of life’s several imperfections and unsatisfactory events.  

Emboldened by wine, emotions in the poet run deep and rush to remind him to live in the authentic reality: “I rise and dance, with my shadow I play; On high as on earth, would it be as gay?”.  

Every moment in life is fleeting and momentary. The wisdom lesson here is to embrace change and stay positive, while continually expecting the unexpected. As we change our mindware and adapt to make permanent change a constant feature in our life, we will never be overwhelmed by failures, pitfalls, and misfortunes, but ever-ready to return to positive mental health, joy, and happiness, and thus be empowered to “live (as) long as we can”. 

The question “how long will the full moon appear?” is a longing for the surreal permanence which does not exist. The poem shifts our indulgence in often sad, unhappy, and unpleasant moments before us towards the promise of the returning beauty of the full brightest moon in the next Mid-Autumn. Hope is the only real permanence in life.

Please enjoy my recent Articles.