暾將出兮東方 The Sun Rises in the East

The sun is about to rise in the east.

，，，．When living in the mountains, one must always rise early, for to lie sleeping in a state between waking and dreaming is detested by all one’s various friends in the mountains. At day-

在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
山: Shān — surname Shan (HSK 1)
中: Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (HSK 1)
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
總要: zǒng yào — nevertheless
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
早: zǎo — 1. early 2. morning 3. Good morning! 4. long ago 5. prematurely (HSK 1)
因: yīn — 1. cause 2. reason 3. because (HSK 6)
爲: wéi — variant of 為 (wéi) (HSK 2)
似: shì — used in 似的 (shì de)
醒: xǐng — 1. to wake up 2. to be awake 3. to become aware 4. to sober up 5. to come to (HSK 4)
非: Fēi — abbr. for 非洲 (Fēi zhōu), Africa (HSK 4)
醒: xǐng — 1. to wake up 2. to be awake 3. to become aware 4. to sober up 5. to come to (HSK 4)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
眠: mián — 1. to sleep 2. to hibernate
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
山: Shān — surname Shan (HSK 1)
中: Zhōng — 1. (bound form) China; Chinese 2. surname Zhong (HSK 1)
各樣: gè yàng — many different types
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
朋友: péng you — 1. friend 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi) (HSK 1)
所: suǒ — 1. actually 2. place 3. classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc 4. that which 5. particle introducing a relative clause or passive 6. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
憎惡: zēng è — to hate evil
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
破: pò — 1. broken 2. damaged 3. worn out 4. lousy 5. rotten 6. to break, split or cleave 7. to get rid of 8. to destroy 9. to break with 10. to defeat 11. to capture (a city etc) 12. to expose the truth of (HSK 3)

，；break, one may not only quietly watch the transformations of the colored clouds;；and listen closely to the lilting turns of the birds’ speech;，，，sometimes, too, from the mountain peaks, the treetops, the reflections in the streams, and the faces of the villages,

．there comes to us much ineffable delight.

，，，，We were staying in Shanyayan Pavilion. Once, just as the first light of dawn was breaking through, everyone was still asleep in bed, when at our ears

，：we dimly heard the singing of a band of boys and girls:

『，！“You who lie abed, awaken!

，The dawn-cock has urged you time and again;

——Do you not see—

「，」‘The sun is about to rise in the east,’

？and a faint light already shines through the trees of the village ahead?

，！』You who lie abed, awaken!”

：This was followed by another refrain:

『！“The sun is about to rise in the east!

！The sun is about to rise in the east!

，Soon the newborn sunlight will clothe the world all around,

．』and make my joy unending.”

，，．The singing continued, but sadly it receded into the distance, and we could no longer hear the words clearly.

：『？Xiaoxu said to me, “Is that not the song you taught the children at school ten years ago?How has it found its way here to be

？』sung?”

：『；I said, “I too am greatly surprised;，．』for even I myself had long since forgotten this song.”

『，．“With the air of decline written all over your face, of course you would forget it. It seems to me that now you mean to use a voice that praises light to praise

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
暮氣: mù qì — 1. evening mist 2. fig. declining spirits 3. lethargy
滿面: mǎn miàn — 1. across one's whole face 2. (smiling) from ear to ear
當然: dāng rán — 1. only natural 2. as it should be 3. certainly 4. of course 5. without doubt (HSK 3)
會: huì — 1. can; to have the skill; to know how to 2. to be likely to; to be sure to 3. to meet; to get together 4. meeting; gathering 5. (suffix) union; group; association 6. (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. (huǐ)) (HSK 1)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
歌: gē — 1. song (classifier: 首 (shǒu), 支 (zhī)) 2. (bound form) to sing (HSK 1)
忘掉: wàng diào — to forget (HSK 7-9)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
用: yòng — 1. to use; to make use of; to employ 2. (coverb) with; using 3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) 4. usefulness; utility 5. (bound form) expense; outlay 6. (courteous) to eat; to drink 7. (literary) hence; therefore (HSK 1)
讚美: zàn měi — 1. to admire 2. to praise 3. to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
光明: guāng míng — 1. light 2. radiance 3. (fig.) bright (prospects etc) 4. openhearted (HSK 3)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
聲音: shēng yīn — sound; voice (HSK 2)
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
讚: zàn — (bound form) to praise; to laud (variant of 贊 (zàn))

．』darkness instead.”

：『，，？I said, “No, no—how could you ever understand me?，，．In truth, darkness is not worth cursing, nor does light need praising. Light

，，？can add nothing to you, and darkness can do you no harm; through what cause or circumstance, then, have you conceived a mind that distinguishes between them?If there must be something to praise,

：；then in the morning one should praise the morning;；at noon one should praise noon;；at dusk one should praise dusk;in the long night

美: Měi — 1. (bound form) the Americas (abbr. for 美洲 (Měi zhōu)) 2. (bound form) USA (abbr. for 美國 (Měi guó)) (HSK 3)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
話: huà — 1. dialect 2. language 3. spoken words 4. speech 5. talk 6. words 7. conversation 8. what sb said 9. classifier: 種 (zhǒng), 席 (xí), 句 (jù), 口 (kǒu), 番 (fān) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
早晨: zǎo chén — 1. early morning 2. also pr. (zǎo chen) (HSK 2)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
該: gāi — 1. should 2. ought to 3. probably 4. must be 5. to deserve 6. to owe 7. to be sb's turn to do sth 8. that 9. the above-mentioned (HSK 2)
讚美: zàn měi — 1. to admire 2. to praise 3. to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
早晨: zǎo chén — 1. early morning 2. also pr. (zǎo chen) (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
日中: Rì Zhōng — Japan-China
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
該: gāi — 1. should 2. ought to 3. probably 4. must be 5. to deserve 6. to owe 7. to be sb's turn to do sth 8. that 9. the above-mentioned (HSK 2)
讚美: zàn měi — 1. to admire 2. to praise 3. to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
日中: Rì Zhōng — Japan-China
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
黃昏: huáng hūn — 1. dusk 2. evening 3. nightfall (HSK 7-9)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
該: gāi — 1. should 2. ought to 3. probably 4. must be 5. to deserve 6. to owe 7. to be sb's turn to do sth 8. that 9. the above-mentioned (HSK 2)
讚美: zàn měi — 1. to admire 2. to praise 3. to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
黃昏: huáng hūn — 1. dusk 2. evening 3. nightfall (HSK 7-9)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
長夜: cháng yè — 1. long dark night 2. fig. long period of misery and oppression

；one should praise the long night;、、，、、．and at every moment of past, present, and future, one should praise every moment of past, present, and future. As for

就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
該: gāi — 1. should 2. ought to 3. probably 4. must be 5. to deserve 6. to owe 7. to be sb's turn to do sth 8. that 9. the above-mentioned (HSK 2)
讚美: zàn měi — 1. to admire 2. to praise 3. to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
長夜: cháng yè — 1. long dark night 2. fig. long period of misery and oppression
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
過去: guò qù — 1. (in the) past; former; previous 2. to go over; to pass by (HSK 2)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
將來: jiāng lái — 1. in the future 2. future 3. the future 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
一切: yī qiè — 1. everything 2. every 3. all (HSK 3)
時間: shí jiān — 1. (concept of) time 2. (duration of) time 3. (point in) time (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
該: gāi — 1. should 2. ought to 3. probably 4. must be 5. to deserve 6. to owe 7. to be sb's turn to do sth 8. that 9. the above-mentioned (HSK 2)
讚美: zàn měi — 1. to admire 2. to praise 3. to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
過去: guò qù — 1. (in the) past; former; previous 2. to go over; to pass by (HSK 2)
現在: xiàn zài — now; at present; currently (HSK 1)
將來: jiāng lái — 1. in the future 2. future 3. the future 4. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
一切: yī qiè — 1. everything 2. every 3. all (HSK 3)
時間: shí jiān — 1. (concept of) time 2. (duration of) time 3. (point in) time (HSK 1)
說到: shuō dào — 1. to talk about 2. to mention 3. (preposition) as for

，．』cursing, the same holds true.”

，，，．By then the morning sunlight was already shining upon our faces. We rose at once and planned that day’s excursion.

Loading the interactive reader…

What it’s about

At daybreak in a mountain lodging, the sleepers hear children singing a wake-up song: the sun is about to emerge in the east, light already passes through the village trees and everyone on the couches should awaken. One friend recognizes it as a school song the narrator taught ten years earlier. The narrator is startled because he himself had forgotten it; an old act has traveled beyond its maker and returns through unknown young voices.

His companion teases that age and weariness have made him ready to praise darkness instead of light. The narrator rejects the opposition. Darkness need not be cursed and light need not be praised, since difference arises from the mind's attachment: morning should be praised in morning, noon at noon, evening in evening and long night in long night. As sunlight reaches their faces, they rise and plan the day's excursion. Acceptance of every time does not mean staying in bed. The argument ends in ordinary activity, with dawn neither a moral victory nor an illusion to ignore.

When it was written 背景

暾 is a literary word for the newly risen sun, and the title's 兮 gives the children's lyric an archaic, songlike cadence. School songs were important vehicles of moral and national education in the late Qing and early Republic; that a former teacher hears his own forgotten song in a remote village suggests the unpredictable circulation of reform-era culture. His later refusal to privilege light sounds Buddhist in its warning against 差別心, discriminating attachment, while the call to “awaken” retains religious and educational force. Xu therefore places enlightenment rhetoric under gentle scrutiny rather than discarding it. Learners should contrast the parallel imperatives 應覺悟 and 該讚美 with the final practical verbs 起來 and 計畫: insight is verified by entering the day.

Words in this chapter 生词

讚美zàn měiHSK 7-9讚美zàn měi — to admire · to praise · to eulogize (HSK 7-9)
暾tūn暾tūn — sun above the horizon
長夜cháng yè長夜cháng yè — long dark night · fig. long period of misery and oppression
兮xī兮xī — (particle in old Chinese similar to 啊)
覺悟jué wùHSK 6覺悟jué wù — to come to understand · to realize · consciousness · awareness · Buddhist enlightenment (Sanskrit: cittotpāda) (HSK 6)
和歌hé gē和歌hé gē — waka (style of Japanese poetry)
增益zēng yì增益zēng yì — to increase · (electronics) gain · (gaming) buff
巓diān巓diān — same as 巔 (diān) · summit · mountain peak · mountain top
敎jiào敎jiào — variant of 教 (jiào)
暮氣mù qì暮氣mù qì — evening mist · fig. declining spirits · lethargy
朝曦zhāo xī朝曦zhāo xī — early morning sunlight
透底tòu dǐ透底tòu dǐ — to disclose inside information · to divulge secret details