Moon Festival by Bei Dao Summary

Introduction

Bei Dao is a famous Chinese poet whose work often touches on political themes. His poem “Moon Festival” was written against the backdrop of the Cold War in 1989. Through this poem, he encourages the Chinese people to come together and stand up against the struggles and injustices they face.

Background of the Moon Festival

The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday. According to legend, there were once ten suns in the sky that scorched the earth. A hero named Hou Yi shot down nine of these suns, saving the people. As a reward, he was given an elixir of immortality by the Queen of Heaven. Hou Yi chose not to drink it because he didn’t want to live forever without his wife. However, one of his students stole the potion, drank it, and flew to the moon. People began to worship her as a goddess who brought them wealth and prosperity, leading to the celebration of the Moon Festival with joy and dance.

Summary of the Poem

The poem “Moon Festival” by Bei Dao can be seen as a journey from a peaceful romantic setting to one of political turmoil and struggle.

A Romantic Night

The poem starts with a scene where lovers are sitting by a pond under the full moon. They are enjoying a private moment together. The moon’s reflection in the water is described as an infant, suggesting purity and innocence. However, the moon is also portrayed as an uninvited guest, intruding on their privacy. This creates a sense of tension between the beauty of the moon and its disruptive presence.

An Uninvited Guest

The moon, despite its beauty, becomes an unwelcome intruder. Its light forces the couple to look for a dark place to hide, showing how it disturbs their private time. This can be seen as a metaphor for how people feel exposed and watched, hinting at the political scrutiny and lack of privacy in their lives.

A Burning Deck

The poem then shifts from the peaceful scene of the couple to a chaotic and struggling environment. The city is described as a burning deck on a frozen sea, symbolizing political unrest and the helplessness of the people during the Cold War. This change in scenery highlights the intense struggles and confusion faced by the people.

The poet uses the image of a leaking faucet to represent the slow, steady efforts of the people to fight against their struggles. The dripping water symbolizes the small but persistent steps they are taking to overcome their challenges. The poet hopes that these small efforts will eventually lead to significant change, like a reservoir turning into an ocean.

Hope for Change

In the end, the poet emphasizes that small, individual efforts are not enough to overcome the struggles faced by the people. He calls for collective action, suggesting that an independent nation needs the strength of an ocean, not just a reservoir. The poet links the Moon Festival to the political situation in China, suggesting that if the people unite and win their battle, they will be blessed with wealth and happiness. The victory will be celebrated with enthusiastic dance, just like the Moon Festival.

Bei Dao’s “Moon Festival” uses the setting of a traditional Chinese celebration to reflect on contemporary political issues. The poem moves from a romantic, serene scene to one of chaos and struggle, ultimately calling for unity and collective action. Through simple yet powerful imagery, Bei Dao conveys a message of hope and the need for the people to come together to create a better future.

Moon Festival by Bei Dao Analysis

Bei Dao is a well-known Chinese poet whose work often deals with political and social themes. His poem “Moon Festival” reflects on the Cold War period in 1989 and uses the traditional Chinese celebration as a backdrop to convey a deeper message. The poem combines elements of romance and political commentary, encouraging people to unite and overcome their struggles.

Romantic Setting

The poem begins with a romantic scene where lovers sit by a pond under the full moon. The moon’s reflection in the water is compared to an infant, which symbolizes purity and innocence. This initial imagery sets a serene and beautiful tone. However, the moon is also described as an uninvited guest, hinting at an underlying tension. The moon’s presence disrupts the couple’s private moment, showing how even something beautiful can become intrusive.

Symbolism of the Moon

The moon in this poem is a powerful symbol. It is traditionally seen as a symbol of beauty, continuity, and connection in Chinese culture. However, Bei Dao gives it a dual role. While it illuminates the night and creates a romantic atmosphere, it also becomes an intruder that disturbs the lovers. This duality reflects the complex reality of life, where beauty and intrusion can coexist. The moon’s light forces the couple to seek darkness, symbolizing the struggle to maintain privacy and intimacy in a world where they are constantly watched.

Political Undertones

As the poem progresses, it shifts from the romantic setting to a more chaotic and politically charged environment. The city is described as a “burning deck on the frozen sea,” a vivid metaphor for the political turmoil and instability during the Cold War. This imagery suggests a situation that is both intense and precarious, with people feeling helpless and trapped.

Symbolism of Water

The dripping faucet represents the slow and steady efforts of the people to fight against their struggles. The drip-drop of water symbolizes small, persistent actions that, over time, can accumulate into a powerful force. This can be seen as a metaphor for grassroots movements and collective action. The poet suggests that these small steps, like drops of water, can eventually turn a reservoir into an ocean, symbolizing a significant and impactful change.

Call to Action

In the final part of the poem, Bei Dao calls for unity and collective action. He emphasizes that individual efforts, while important, are not enough to overcome the massive struggles faced by the people. The metaphor of the ocean versus the reservoir illustrates the need for a collective effort to create meaningful change. By linking the Moon Festival, a time of celebration and unity, to the political situation, the poet encourages people to come together and fight for their rights and freedom.

Literary Devices

Bei Dao uses several literary devices to enhance the poem’s impact:

Alliteration: The phrase “an uninvited guest knocks” uses repetition of the “k” sound to emphasize the intrusiveness of the moon, representing unwanted thoughts or guilt.

Onomatopoeia: The sound “drip-drop” of the faucet creates a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere, adding tension to the poem.

Personification: “The trees applaud” brings the environment to life, making nature seem to react to the events, adding a layer of meaning and emotion.

“Moon Festival” by Bei Dao is a complex poem that blends romantic imagery with political commentary. Through the use of powerful symbols and literary devices, Bei Dao conveys a message of persistence, unity, and hope. He encourages the people to come together and take collective action to overcome their struggles, just as they celebrate the Moon Festival with joy and unity. The poem serves as a reminder that even in the face of great challenges, collective efforts can lead to significant change.

Moon Festival by Bei Dao Line by Line Explanation

Lovers holding pits in their mouths

• The image of lovers holding pits (possibly from fruit) in their mouths suggests they are sharing a sweet, intimate moment.

make vows and delight in each other

• The lovers are making promises to each other and are very happy together.

till the underwater infant

• This line introduces a metaphor where something pure and new, like an infant underwater, is about to emerge.

periscopes his parents

• The infant, symbolizing innocence, is observing its surroundings. “Periscopes” suggests looking intently, like using a periscope to see what’s above water.

and is born

• The infant finally comes into being, representing the birth of new love or a new beginning.

an uninvited guest knocks at my

• Suddenly, an unexpected presence, like an uninvited guest, arrives, disrupting the scene.

door, determined to go deep

• This guest is not just passing by but is intent on delving deeply into the situation or the narrator’s thoughts.

into the interior of things

• The guest wants to explore or understand the deeper, perhaps hidden, aspects of the narrator’s life.

the trees applaud

• The trees are personified as if they are clapping, suggesting nature’s response to the unfolding events.

wait a minute, the full moon

• The narrator pauses, focusing on the full moon, which often symbolizes completeness or heightened emotion.

and this plan are making me nervous

• The combination of the full moon and whatever plan or situation is unfolding is causing the narrator anxiety.

my hand fluttering

• The narrator’s hand is trembling or moving nervously, showing their discomfort or unease.

over the obscure implications of the letter

• There is a letter with unclear or hidden meanings, adding to the narrator’s nervousness.

let me sit in the dark

• The narrator wants to stay in the dark for a while, both literally and metaphorically, perhaps to avoid facing reality or to think quietly.

a while longer, like

• The narrator needs more time in this state of contemplation or avoidance.

sitting on a friend’s heart

• This metaphor suggests being in a place of emotional support or intimacy, like being close to a friend’s feelings.

the city a burning deck

• The scene shifts to a city described as a burning deck, implying chaos and danger.

on the frozen sea

• The city is on a frozen sea, which adds a layer of helplessness and stagnation, contrasting fire and ice.

can it be saved? it must be saved

• The narrator questions whether the city can be rescued from its dire situation but asserts that it must be.

the faucet drip-drop drip-drop

• The sound of water dripping from a faucet creates a sense of slow, relentless time passing, perhaps symbolizing persistent problems.

mourns the reservoir

• The dripping faucet mourns the reservoir, suggesting that small, continuous losses are depleting a larger source, symbolizing the gradual loss of something vital or the slow progress of change.