Song Dynasty
Moon over the West River · Traveling the Huangsha Path at Night
Xin Qiji
明月别枝惊鹊
清风半夜鸣蝉
稻花香里说丰年
听取蛙声一片
七八个星天外
两三点雨山前
旧时茅店社林边
路转溪桥忽见
Translation
The bright moon startles magpies from the branching boughs; in the midnight breeze, cicadas begin to sing. Amid the fragrance of rice blossoms, people speak of a good harvest; listen — everywhere, the sound of frogs. Seven or eight stars hang beyond the sky; two or three drops of rain fall before the hills. The old thatched inn once stood beside the shrine grove; the road turns by the creek bridge, and suddenly it appears.
Analysis
This lyric records what Xin Qiji saw and heard while walking at night along the Huangsha road. It is one of the finest examples of rural night scenery in Song ci poetry. The first stanza emphasizes sound, scent, and the atmosphere of harvest. The opening lines do not simply state that the night is quiet. Instead, the moon startles magpies from the branches, and cicadas sing in the midnight breeze. These small sounds and movements make the stillness of the summer night more vivid. "Amid the fragrance of rice blossoms, people speak of a good harvest; listen — everywhere, the sound of frogs" is the heart of the poem. The scent of rice blossoms suggests the season of growth, while the frogs' chorus hints at full fields and abundant life. The second stanza shifts to the changing weather and the traveler's sense of space. "Seven or eight stars" and "two or three drops of rain" are plain, almost conversational phrases, but they are extremely precise. The final couplet brings a small moment of recognition: after walking through the night, the traveler turns by a creek bridge and suddenly sees the familiar thatched inn by the shrine grove. The word "suddenly" gives the ending warmth. Although Xin Qiji is best known for heroic and patriotic lyrics, this poem shows another side of him: fresh, simple, observant, and deeply alive to rural life.
About the Author
Xin Qiji, courtesy name You'an and literary name Jiaxuan, was a major poet and military figure of the Southern Song dynasty. Born in Licheng, Shandong, he joined resistance efforts against the Jin in his youth and later served the Southern Song court. He strongly advocated recovering the northern territories, but his ambitions were often frustrated by political circumstances. Xin Qiji is one of the great masters of the bold and unconstrained style of ci poetry and is often paired with Su Shi as "Su-Xin." His works range from patriotic and heroic lyrics to poems of frustration, reflection, and rural beauty. His famous works include "Po Zhen Zi · Written for Chen Tongfu," "Yong Yu Le · Nostalgia at Beigu Pavilion in Jingkou," and "Qing Yu An · The Lantern Festival."