Confucius
Institute
The Moon of Yangtze: a nostalgic song of home
The Moon of Yangtze 4:39
Video: The Moon of Yangtze (Music by Cao Guanyu; Lyrics by Ya Fen and Vocal by Wan Li) Acknowledgment: all copyrights of the video and photos reserved to Central China Normal University (CCNU)
This award-winning song brings us to a Chinese village on the bank of Yangtze or Long River (Chinese: 长江; Pinyin: cháng jiāng) to find serenity and solace. The song embraces the value of family bond and highlights the Yangtze people’s deep attachment to their homeland.
The full moon is a symbol of family reunion in Chinese culture. The moon of Yangtze has been the subject in many literatures and artworks. Here is an example of couple lines from a well-known poem “Berthing in Gua Chau” (Chinese: 泊船瓜洲; Pinyin: pō chuán guā zhōu) by Wang Anshi in the Song dynasty (1021 to 1086 AD) that expressed a traveller’s yearning for home.
春风又绿江南岸，
明月何时照我还？
chūnfēng yòu lǜ jiāngnán àn,
míngyuè hé shí zhào wǒ hái?
Green in the spring wind the south bank of Yangtze,
When will the bright moon light my journey home?
(English translation by Yang Xianyi, a Chinese literary translator)
Embracing the beauty of the moon and its reflection on Yangtze, the song producers expressed their appreciation to the mother river and their deep emotional attachment to “Jianghan Plain”, their homeland.
Located in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze, Jianghan Plain (Chinese: 江汉平原; Pinyin: jiānghàn píngyuán) is known for its fertile fields and dense forests nourished by Yangtze River network since ancient times. In this video, you will get a glimpse of the exquisite scenery around the area.
In this song, a bride bids farewell to her family for a new life. She cherishes the love of her grandmother and parents whilst endures the sadness of separation. In dreams, she would return to her beloved home.
"The Moon of Yangtze" was selected as an “Excellent work” by the national Chinese Musicians Association and included in the Association’s "the Collection of Original Songs with Yangtze theme”. The song also won the “Qu Yuan Literature and Art Award” in Hubei Province.
To help you enjoy this beautiful song, lyrics are provided in Chinese, Pinyin and English translation.
| 月在那边望 yuè zài nà biān wàng | The moon watches from there |
| 水在这边晃 shuǐ zài zhè biān huǎng | Water runs from here |
| 月照一垄垄菜花，梦也芬芳 yuè zhào yī lǒng lǒng cài huā, mèng yě fēn fāng | Ridges of rapeseed flowers in the moonlight, the aromas refresh my dream |
| 云雾茶飘香 yún wù chá piāo xiāng | “Cloud Tea” spreads its fragrance Note: Cloud tea is named for the alpine clouds of the Mount Heng (also called Nanyue) where its plant grows. It was also called Mount Yue tea in ancient times. |
| 布谷催种忙 bù gǔ cuī zhǒng máng | Cuckoo urges farmers to sow |
| 月似弯刀 yuè shì wān dāo | The crescent moon is like a machete |
| 收割夏秋的金黄 shōu gē xià qiū de jīn huáng | Golden grains are harvested in summer and autumn |
| 长江月是奶奶哼的小曲 cháng jiāng yuè shì nǎinai hēng de xiǎo qǔ | The moon of Yangtze is a grandma ditty |
| 长江月是妈妈笑的模样 cháng jiāng yuè shì mā mā xiào de mú yàng | The moon of Yangtze is a mother’s smiling face |
| 长江月是梦里划过的船 cháng jiāng yuè shì mèng lǐ huàguò de chuán | The moon of Yangtze is the small boat rowed into my dream |
| 浪迹里春暖花开是故乡 làng jì lǐ chūn nuǎn huā kāi shì gù xiāng | The waves lead me back to my hometown where spring flowers bloom |
| 青藤缠大树 qīng téng chán dà shù | Ivy wraps around a big tree |
| 炊烟绕夕阳 chuī yān rào xī yáng | Cooking smoke encircles the sunset |
| 一江烟雨可是你千年的风霜 yī jiāng yān yǔ kě shì nǐ qiān nián de fēng shuāng | Does the misty rain carry the Yangtze wind and frost for thousands of years? |
| 唢呐锣鼓响 suǒ nà luó gǔ xiǎng | Sorna and drums aloud Note: Soma is a kind of trumpet |
| 哭嫁歌声长 kū jià gē shēng cháng | Crying song lingers to farewell a bride leaving her family |
| 明月好似爹娘祝福美丽新娘 míng yuè hǎo sì diē niáng zhù fú měi lì xīn niáng | The bright moon like parents bestows the best wishes to the beautiful bride |
| 长江月是爸爸托起的希望 cháng jiāng yuè shì bàba tuō qǐ de xī wàng | The moon of Yangtze is a hope raised by my father |
| 长江月是妈妈酿造的时光 cháng jiāng yuè shì mā mā niàng zào de shí guāng | The moon of Yangtze is a good memory made by my mother |
| 长江月是梦里划过的船 cháng jiāng yuè shì mèng lǐ huà guò de chuán | The moon of Yangtze is the boat rowed into my dream |
| 浪迹里春暖花开是故乡 làng jì lǐ chūn nuǎn huā kāi shì gù xiāng | The waves lead me back to my hometown where spring flowers bloom |
| 长江月啊长江月 cháng jiāng yuè a cháng jiāng yuè | The moon of Yangtze, The moon of Yangtze |
| 长江月啊长江月 cháng jiāng yuè a cháng jiāng yuè | The moon of Yangtze, The moon of Yangtze |
| 春暖花开是故乡 chūn nuǎn huā kāi shì gù xiāng | Spring flowers bloom in my hometown |
The Composer
Associate Professor Cao Guanyu teaches and researches at Central China Normal University’s School of Music. Focusing on composition technology theory, her academic publication includes books such as “A Collection of Cao Guanyu's Creative Works” and “The Research on Tchaikovsky's Artistic Creation”, and articles such as “The teaching mode of TianKong chorus: a mode based on the native culture” and "On the Exploration of Nationality in the Development of Chinese Chorus".
She also composed music for the dance-drama "Soul of Osmanthus", a work dedicated to Central China Normal University’s 110th anniversary celebration. Her works have also been performed in multiple academic institutions and universities in the U.S., Germany, Sweden, and Russia.
CI has previously shared her other work “Yue Diao: The little red peach” performed by CCNU’s Tiankong Choir in our Online resources.
The Singer
Dr Wan Li also teaches and researches at Central China Normal University’s School of Music. As a scholar, she has published a book “Music, Culture and Aesthetics in Teaching and Research” (as the first author).
Dr Wan is a performing artist and a member of Chinese Musicians Association. She has released the albums "Singing in Spring “and “Love Songs in the Cloud”, and won multiple awards for her vocal performance, including silver award in “The 11th National Competition of Young Singers” and "The Artistic Talent on Hubei Stage”.
Dr Wan has been highly acknowledged for her dedication to charity and philanthropy. She was among the volunteer performers to thank the flood fighters. She also held charity concerts and made donations to help autistic children.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.