1. On the fifteenth night of the first lunar month

Su Weiwei [Tang Dynasty]

Fire trees and silver flowers bloom together, and the iron locks of the star bridge open.

The dark dust follows the horse, and the bright moon follows the person.

All the entertainers are wearing plums, and all the singing is falling.

Jinwu can’t control the night, and the jade leaks don’t urge each other.

Translation

The bright lights are scattered here and there, reflecting the bright light in the depths of the garden, like delicate flowers; since everywhere is accessible, the iron locks of the city gate are also opened.

The crowds are surging, and the dust is flying under the horses' hooves; the moonlight shines in every corner, and people can see the bright moon everywhere.

Under the shadow of the moonlight, the singing girls were dressed in colorful flowers and heavy makeup, singing "Plum Blossoms Fall" as they walked.

The night ban has been lifted in the capital, so don’t be too busy with timekeeping. Don’t let the Lantern Festival night, which only happens once a year, pass by in a hurry.

2. Lights on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month

Zhang Hu [Tang Dynasty]

Thousands of doors are opened and thousands of lights are lit, and the imperial capital is moved in the middle of the first lunar month.

Three hundred ladies danced with sleeves, and the sound of lyrics was heard in the sky.

Translation

During the Lantern Festival, thousands of households walked out of their homes, and countless lanterns lit up the streets, as if the entire Kyoto was shaken.

Countless palace maids danced happily, and the singing and dancing music of the world soared into the sky and reached the sky.

3. One of the six poems on the night of Shangyuan

Cui Ye (Tang Dynasty)

Don’t rush the jade leaky silver pot, the iron gate and the golden lock are clearly opened .

Who can sit around and watch the moon? Where can I hear the light but not see it?

Translation

Please stop pressing the jade leak and the silver pot for the time being. The palace gate and the golden lock on it will remain open until dawn.

Who can sit still and do nothing when they see the bright moon? How many people have heard that there is a lantern festival but don’t come to see it?

4. Watching Lanterns on the Fifteenth Night

Lu Zhaolin [Tang Dynasty]

In the early years, there was a fragrant banquet in Jinli, and the orchids were beautiful.

The colors are far away, and the light is far away in the sky.

The stars are falling in the Han Dynasty, and the moon is hanging by the building.

Don’t have the smile of a thousand gold, come and reflect in front of the nine branches.

Translation

In the gorgeously colored lights, the couple held a banquet to celebrate. Under the exquisite lamps, the young people looked even more bright and beautiful.

The brilliant colors of the lights seem to have separated the earth from a distance, and numerous lights dot the sky far away.

The lights and fireworks connecting the Tianhe River seem like stars falling down, and the lights leaning against the tall buildings look like the moon hanging in the sky.

There is also a beautiful woman’s beautiful smile reflected in the nine-branched firelight.

5. Yuanxi Festival in Bianjing

Li Mengyang [Ming Dynasty]

The Zhongshan boy relies on his new makeup, and the daughter of Zheng, Yanji, is the only one who excels.

Let’s sing together at King Xian’s Chun Yue Mansion, the moon outside the Golden Liang Bridge is like frost.

Translation

The actors from Zhongshan have bright costumes, while the female concubines from Zheng Yan have superb skills.

They performed a drama about Zhou Xian Wang Zhu Youdun together, while the bright moon outside Jinliang Bridge was as white as frost.