Birthday poem · July 6The eve of the Double Seventh (July 7), in the Minor Heat period.
Birth character
光 guāng · light
In its oldest form, 光 shows fire above a kneeling person; it means light.
床前明月光
“Before my bed a pool of light” — Li Bai, ‘Quiet Night Thoughts’
The poem
“Autumn Evening” 秋夕
- 銀燭秋光冷畫屏Silver candles, autumn light, cold on the painted screen;
- 輕羅小扇撲流螢with a light silk fan she swats at the fireflies.
- 天階夜色涼如水On the palace steps the night is cool as water;
- 坐看牽牛織女星she sits and gazes at the Cowherd and the Weaver stars.
Why this poem
Du Mu on a palace maid catching fireflies and watching the Qixi stars.
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Minor Heat. Near the eve of the Double Seventh (July 7).