劉敞《冬至》“Winter solstice” by Liu Chang (1019-1068)

寒事欲無幾，

春歸方有期。

嘉辰正須醉，

愛日为君遲。

As matters of the cold [season] come to an end,

Spring will soon return on schedule.

Such a festive time calls for a good drink -  

The agreeable day shall linger for you.[1]

* From Liu Chang, Gongshiji 公是集, Yingyin Wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe, 1987) edition, vol. 1095, 27.5b.

[1] As the poem is a celebration of the winter solstice, and ri 日 could refer to “day” as well as “daytime”, the last line may be understood in two ways: “This festive day will feel longer (as the night is literally longer than before)” or “The precious daytime will become longer from now on”.

"Dongzhi yi yang" 冬至一陽, hanging scroll by Zhu Jianshen 朱見深, the Chenghua Emperor of the Ming (1447-1487, ruling 1464-1487); the “one goat” (yi yang 一羊) depicted in the image is a pun on yi yang 一陽 (the beginning of sun / the yang force)

Image credit: National Palace Museum, Taipei

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