Drinking Alone in the Moonlight

by: Li Po
Objectives
At the end of the topic the
students are able to:
• Identify the meaning of
Drinking Alone in the
Moonlight
• Use the value of the poem to
apply it in daily lives
• Construct a reflection of a
poem
Motivation

• One Random Object

 Chinese Literature

• Writing in China dates back to the

hieroglyphs that were used in the Shang
Dynasty of 1700 – 1050 BC. Chinese
literature is a vast subject that spans
thousands of years. One of the interesting
things about Chinese literature is that much
of the serious literature was composed using
a formal written language that is called
Classical Chinese.

• The best literature of the Yuan Dynasty era

and the four novels that are considered the
greatest classics are important exceptions.
 Chinese Literature
However, even during the Qing Dynasty of two
hundred years ago, most writers composed in
a literary stream that extended back about
2,400 years. They studied very ancient
writings in more or less the original written
language. This large breadth of time with so
many writers living in the various eras and
countries makes Chinese literature complex.

Chinese literary works include fiction,

philosophical and religious works, poetry,
and scientific writings. The dynastic eras
frame the history of Chinese literature and are
examined one by one.
 Chinese Literature
The grammar of the written Classical
Language is different than the spoken
languages of the past two thousand
years.

This written language was used by people

of many different ethnic groups and
countries during the Zhou, Qin and Han
eras spanning 1050 BC to 220 AD. After
the Han Dynasty, the written language
evolved as the spoken languages
changed, but most writers still based
their compositions on Classical Chinese.
 Chinese Literature
However, this written language wasn’t
the vernacular language even two
thousand years ago. The empires and
groups of kingdoms of all these eras
were composed of people speaking
many different native languages. If
Europe had a literary history like
China’s, it would be as if most
European writers until the 20th
century always tried to write in
ancient Classical Greek that became a
dead language more than two
millennia ago.
 • Also known as Li Bai, Li Po
[701-762] is considered one
of China's two best poets ( the
other is Tu Fu, both of the
T'ang Dynasty). He is noted
for his elegant romantic
poetry and for his prolific
output: around 1000 poems
have survived the centuries in
various archives.
Li Po
• Li Po was born in Chu , Kazakhstan in the
year 700, but moved to Jiangnyou in the
Sichuan Province when he was 5 . He
began school when he was 10. He went
to many Chinese schools under different
philosophies or beliefs, but Taoism was
the most influential. When a General Su
Ting interviewed Li, he considered him to
be a genius. This was in the year 720. Li
wanted to become an official but didn't
want to sit through the civil exams. After
that, he traveled around going to parties
and meeting celebs (but only for 5 years)
living a carefree life which is against the
societal norms set for men back then.
• Li Po was a sixth century Chinese
poet. He was a Taoist and member
of a small group of Chinese poets
who were devoted to nature and
wine. The poem “Drinking Alone with
The Moon” is likely from that period
of his life. Some other subjects that
he studied in his poetry which may
apply were an interest in alchemy,
friendship and solitude. He was a
wondering poet traveling throughout
China. His imagination and
humorous character are apparent in
this poem.
 Amongst the flowers I
am alone with my pot of wine
drinking by myself; then lifting
my cup I asked the moon
to drink with me, its reflection
and mine in the wine cup, just
the three of us; then I sigh
for the moon cannot drink,
and my shadow goes emptily along
with me never saying a word;
with no other friends here, I can
but use these two for company;
 in the time of happiness, I
too must be happy with all
around me; I sit and sing
and it is as if the moon
accompanies me; then if I
dance, it is my shadow that
dances along with me; while
still not drunk, I am glad
to make the moon and my shadow
into friends, but then when
I have drunk too much, we
all part; yet these are
friends I can always count on
these who have no emotion
whatsoever; I hope that one day
we three will meet again,
deep in the Milky Way.
 Drinking Alone with the Moon
From a pot of wine among the flowers
I drank alone. There was no one with me --
Till raising my cup, I ask the bright moon
To bring me my shadow and make us three.
Alas, the moon was unable to drink
And my shadow tagged me vacantly;
But still for a while I had these friends
To cheer me through the end of spring....
I sang. The moon encouraged me
I danced. My shadow tumbled after.
As long as I knew, we were born companions.
And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.
....Shall goodwill ever be secure?
I watch the long road of the River of Stars.
 Analysis
“From a pot of wine among the
flowers
I drank alone. There was no one with
me -“

• This poem shows a progression from

realistic into the imaginative and
from sober state to drunk. The flow
of this poem tells more of a story
than just setting and looking at the
moon while drinking wine.
 Analysis
“Till raising my cup, I ask the bright moon
To bring me my shadow and make us three.”

• This is an unrealistic request, appreciate the

metaphor and the use of words. This is what
makes Li Po one of the most celebrated poets of
Chinese history. For Li Po this would be
perfectly natural as all things are mutual in
Taoism.
 Analysis
“Alas, the moon was unable to drink
And my shadow tagged me vacantly;”

• What wonderful wit and communal spirit.

The elements of nature are not seen as
without spirit in East Asian cultures,
especially in ancient culture.
 Analysis
“But still for a while I had these friends”

• Wine did have a very special place in Li

Po’s life and writing. He often depended on
it to enhance his poetry.
 Analysis

“To cheer me through the end of spring....”

• This indicates that he is able to entertain

himself in solitude. He lets his imagination
go the more inebriated he becomes.
 Analysis
“I sang. The moon encouraged me
I danced. My shadow tumbled after.”

• The word tumble could also simply be a

word used as movements in dance.
 Analysis
“As long as I knew, we were born companions.
And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.”

• This is interesting and somewhat unique to

Chinese or Asian literature. Your shadow is
always with you whether you see it or not. The
moon is a personal companion. They were “born”
to be together is a way of saying it never leaves
him even when he no longer sees it.
 Analysis
“....Shall goodwill ever be secure?
I watch the long road of the River of Stars.”

Goodwill is something we often consider a human

characteristic. He may also be asking for the
goodwill of the natural elements to help him find
that unity with all that is around him.
 Analysis
”I watch the long road of the River of Stars”

• Finally the last lines indicate that he is

getting there. He is visualizing a path
‘river’ through the stars. Could the
heavens have shown him the way, this
would explain the seeming dual meaning
of ‘long road’ and ‘River of Stars.’ this line
is essential to his Taoist philosophy. Man is
to harmonize and be one with nature not
fight it. Question it but not act. The ideal is
to be an observer. The “River of Stars” is a
way of placing himself within the scheme
of the heavens.
 Analysis
• Personification is used on the moon and
his shadow.

"In the dance I weave, my shadow tangles

and breaks."

• Metaphors are used to give the moon and

his shadow associative properties.

"Yet with the moon as friend and the shadow

as slave"
 Analysis
• Allusion is used to say that he's blacking out.
• "Now we are drunk, each goes his way."
• A cup of wine, under the flowering trees;
• I drink alone, for no friend is near.
• Raising my cup I beckon the bright moon,
• For he, with my shadow, will make three men.
• The moon, alas, is no drinker of wine;
• Listless, my shadow creeps about at my side.
• Yet with the moon as friend and the shadow as slave
• I must make merry before the Spring is spent.
• To the songs I sing the moon flickers her beams;
• In the dance I weave my shadow tangles and breaks.
• While we were sober, three shared the fun;
• Now we are drunk, each goes his way.
• May we long share our odd, inanimate feast,
• And meet at last on the Cloudy River of the sky.
• More allusion is used in giving the sense of meeting in
heaven or being together in a cosmological sense
(Taoism)
• "And meet at last on the Cloudy River of the sky."
 Analysis
• Do you believe that companionship can
be found in inanimate objects or other
organisms?
• What are other literary devices can be
found in the poem?
• Cite examples
• Own interpretation of the poem?
Thanks!