Untitled

The skeletal idea was first written sometime in late April or early May but was left alone until today that I got the inspiration to finish it.

1 孤獨明月看池塘 Bright is the solitary moon looking at the pond,
2 水中寒宮冷相望 The watery lunar palace stares back in coldness.
3 天上恩怨凡塵淚 Whatever gratitude or grievance made in heaven becomes tears on earth,
4 銀光故意照空牀 Deliberant is the silvery light shining upon the empty bed.

2 Technically 宮, is the abode of a God. Since the emperor is the Son of heaven, his residence is therefore so named. Translating it as a palace gives an air of luxury while “shrine” does not. In Japan, the original meaning is still used. A 殿 is a palace structure used solely for administration, usually translated as “hall”.

3 When heavenly beings break celestial laws such as harboring impure thoughts of love, leaving heaven without permission, etc., they are punishment by permanent banishment or be sent down to earth to suffer a mortal life so that they can be enlightened once again. Seems that the form of punishment is arbitrary and dependent on the mood of the enforcer. For example, Pigsy in the “Western Journey” was permanent banishment from heaven for trying to flirt with the Goddess of the Moon while Sandy, suffered the same fate for breaking a crystal goblet accidentally during a celestial banquet. Weaver Girl - for sneaking down to earth and married to a mortal. Her punishment is eternal separation from husband and children except for one night of reunion on Seventh Night. In “Madam White Snake”, the heroine was “told” by the Queen Mother of the West to go down to earth to satisfy her debt with her savior by marrying him before she could return to heaven and cast away her demon snake origins. 

Sunday, May 15, 2022