The Mid-Autumn Festival

1.
中秋节节中国的传统节 日 之 一，每年农历 8 月 15 日庆祝。传说月亮在这一天最
大最圆根据  推 算，今 年 公历 9 月 27 日 为中秋 节 。
zhōnɡqiūjié shì zhōnɡɡuó de chuántǒnɡ jiérì zhīyī，měinián nónɡlì 8yuè 15rì
qìnɡzhù。chuánshuō yuèliɑnɡ zài zhèyìtiān zuìdà zuìyuán. ɡēnjù
tuīsuàn，jīnnián ɡōnɡlì  yuè   rì  wéi  zhōnɡqiūjié。
The August Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the traditional
Chinese holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Chinese
legends say that the moon is at its brightest and roundest on this day. Based on
the Gregorian calendar, this year's August Moon Festival will be held on
September 27th.
2.
中  秋  节  也  被   称为    女人 的 节 日，月 象   征   着 优 雅与美 丽。东  亚地区的
人 们 崇   尚   月 亮   ，月 亮   代 表“阴 ”或 女性 ，并  且 被 看 做 是 可靠 的朋  友 。
中国 的父母总  喜欢  用  “月 ”为 女儿取名  ，希望  她们像月亮 一样  可爱。
zhōnɡqiūjié yě bèi chēnɡwéi nǚrén de jiérì，yuè xiànɡzhēnɡzhe yōuyǎ yǔ měilì. dōnɡyà
dìqū de rénmen chónɡshànɡ yuèliɑnɡ，yuèliɑnɡ dàibiǎo “yīn” huò nǚxìnɡ，bìnɡqiě bèi
kànzuò shì kěkào de pénɡyou. zhōnɡɡuó de fùmǔ zǒnɡ xǐhuɑn yònɡ “yuè” wèi nǚér
qǔmínɡ, xīwànɡ tāmen xiànɡ yuèliɑnɡ yíyànɡ kěài.
The August Moon Festival is often called the Women's Festival. The moon
symbolizes elegance and beauty. People in the Far East admire the moon，and
the moon is the 'yin' or female principle and it is a trusted friend. Chinese
parents often name their daughters after the moon, in hope that they will be as
lovely as the moon.
3.
实际上，古代很多关于八月十五月圆的故事都跟一位月亮仙子有关。在阴历 8 月
15 的晚上，小孩子都能看到月亮上有一位女子。
shíjì shànɡ，ɡǔdài hěnduō ɡuānyú bāyuè shíwǔ yuèyuán de ɡùshi dōu
ɡēn yíwèi yuèliɑnɡ xiānzǐ yǒuɡuān. Zài yīnlì  bāyuè de wǎnshɑnɡ，xiǎoháizi dōu
nénɡ kàndào yuèliɑnɡshànɡ yǒu yíwèi nǘzǐ.
In fact, many ancient August Moon folktales are about a moon maiden. On the
15th night of the 8th lunar moon, little children on earth can see a lady on the
moon.

4.
这个故事发生在公元前 2170 年左右，那个时候，天上有十个太阳，它们轮流照亮
地上。但有一天，十个太阳一起出现，他们的热量烧焦了地上的植物。一位身强
体壮，名叫后羿的弓箭手拯救了世界。他成功地射落了九个太阳。
zhèɡe ɡùshi fāshēnɡ zài ɡōnɡyuánqián   nián zuǒyòu，nàɡè shíhou，tiānshànɡ
yǒu shíɡè tàiyánɡ，tāmen lúnliú zhàoliànɡ dìshànɡ。Dàn yǒu   yìtiān，shíɡè
tàiyánɡ yìqǐ chūxiàn，tāmen de rèliànɡ shāojiāo le dìshànɡ de zhíwù。Yíwèi
shēnqiánɡtǐzhuànɡ，mínɡ jiào hòuyì de ɡōnɡjiànshǒu zhěnɡjiù le shìjiè。tā
chénɡɡōnɡ dì shèluò le jiǔɡè tàiyánɡ.
The story took place around 2170 B.C. At that time, the earth had ten suns
circling it, each taking its turn to illuminate to the earth. But one day all ten suns
appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The world was saved by
a strong archer named Hou Yi. He succeeded in shooting down nine of the suns.

5.

有一天，后羿偷了一位神仙的长生不老药。而他美丽的妻子嫦娥为了帮助人们脱
离他暴虐的统治偷偷喝下了长生不老药。喝下药之后她发现自己飘浮起来并飞向
了月亮。
yǒuyìtiān,  Hòuyì tōule yíwèi shénxiān de chánɡshēnɡ bùlǎo yào. értā měilì de
qīzi Chánɡ’é wèile bānɡzhù rénmen tuōlí tā bàonüède tǒnɡzhì  tōutōu hēxià le
chánɡshēnɡ bùlǎo yào。hēxià yào zhīhòu tā fāxiàn zìjǐ piāofú qǐlái bìnɡ fēi xiànɡ
le yuèliɑnɡ.
One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a goddess. However, his beautiful
wife Chang E drank the elixir of life in order to save the people from her
husband's tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating and flew all
the way to the moon.
6.

人们认为嫦娥是住在月亮上的仙子，所以月亮才会发光。女孩子如果想要变得漂
亮并且有一位如意郎君，都要供奉月亮。而中秋的时候，孩子们都会向月亮仙子
许愿祈求他们能够梦想成真。
Rénmen rènwéi Chánɡ’é shì zhùzài yuèliɑnɡ shànɡ de xiānzǐ, suóyǐ yuèliɑnɡ cái
huì fāɡuānɡ。Nǚháizi rúɡuǒ xiǎnɡyào biàn dé piàoliɑnɡ bìnɡqiě yǒu yíwèi rúyì
lánɡjūn，dōu yào ɡònɡfènɡ yuèliɑnɡ. ér zhōnɡqiū de shíhou，háizimen dōu huì
xiànɡ yuèliɑnɡ xiānzǐ xǔyuàn qíqiú tāmen nénɡɡòu mènɡxiǎnɡ chénɡzhēn.
People believed that the lady was a god who lived in the moon that made the
moon shine. Girls who wanted to be a beauty and have a handsome husband
should worship the moon. And on this magical occasion, children who make
wishes to the Lady on the Moon will find their dreams come true.
7.

吴刚是个懒惰的学徒。有一天他想学道成仙，于是他住到深山里想求一位仙人教
他法术。开始的时候，仙人教他用草药治病，但三天之后吴刚不安定的本性就暴
露出来了。
Wúɡānɡ shì ɡè lǎnduò de xuétú。Yǒu yìtiān tā xiǎnɡ xuédàochénɡxiān, yúshì tā
zhùdào shēnshānlǐ xiǎnɡ qiú yíwèi xiānrén jiāotā fǎshù. Kāishǐ de shíhou,
xiānrén jiāo tā yònɡ cǎoyào zhìbìnɡ, dàn sāntiān zhīhòu，Wúɡānɡ bùāndìnɡ de
běnxìnɡ jiù bàolòu chūlái le.
Wu Kang was a shiftless fellow. One day he decided that he wanted to be an
immortal, so he went to the mountains where he importuned an immortal to
teach him. First the immortal taught him about the herbs used to cure sickness,
but after three days his characteristic restlessness returned.
8.

他又求仙人教他其他的东西，于是仙人教他下棋，但不久之后吴刚又失去了兴趣。
于是仙人给了他研习仙术的书。当然没几天吴刚又觉得无聊了，并问仙人能否去
一些新鲜有趣的地方。
tā yòu qiú xiānrén jiāo tā qítāde dōnɡxi，yúshì xiānrén jiāo tā xiàqí, dàn bùjiǔ
zhīhòu Wúɡānɡ yòu shīqù le xìnɡqù. yúshì xiānrén ɡěi le tā yánxí xiānshù de
shū. dānɡrán méi jǐtiān Wúɡānɡ yòu juédé wúliáo le，bìnɡ wèn xiānrén nénɡfǒu
qù yìxiē xīnxiǎn yǒuqù de dìfɑnɡ.
and Wu Kang asked the immortal to teach him something else. So the immortal
taught him chess, but after a short while Wu Kang's enthusiasm again waned.
Then Wu Kang was given the books of immortality to study. Of course, Wu Kang
became bored within a few days, and asked if they could travel to some new and
exciting place.

9.

因为气恼吴刚毫无耐心的本性，仙人罚他去月宫，
并告诉他除非他能砍倒一棵巨大的桂树，否则他
就不能回到人间。虽然吴刚日夜砍伐，但这棵神奇
的树每次被砍的创伤又会自己愈合，于是吴刚
只有夜以继日地砍伐。
Yīnwèi qìnǎo Wúɡānɡ háowú nàixīn de běnxìnɡ，xiānrén fá tā qù yuèɡōnɡ，
bìnɡ ɡàosu tā chúfēi tā nénɡ kǎn dǎo yìkē jùdà de ɡuìshù，fǒuzé tā
jiù bùnénɡ huídào rénjiān. Suīrán Wúɡānɡ rìyè kǎnfá，dàn zhèkē shénqí
de shù měicì bèi kǎn de chuānɡshānɡ yòuhuì zìjǐ yùhé，yúshì Wúɡānɡ
zhíyǒu yèyǐjìrì dì kǎnfá.

Angered with Wu Kang's impatience, the master banished Wu Kang to the Moon
Palace telling him that he must cut down a huge cassia tree before he could
return to earth. Though Wu Kang chopped day and night, the magical tree
restored itself with each blow, and thus he is up there chopping still.
10.

每到这一天，亲人都会一起吃月饼并庆丰收。文人们也写了很多跟月亮有关的诗。
这
个夜晚也是浪漫约会的好时刻。新朋旧友也因此
相聚，难怪中秋节对于那些相信月亮的神秘
力量的人来说有着特殊意义。
Měi dào zhèyìtiān，qīnrén dūhuì yìqǐ chī yuèbǐnɡ bìnɡ qìnɡzhù
fēnɡshōu。Wénrénmen yě xiěle hěnduō ɡēn yuèliɑnɡ yǒuɡuān de shī. zhè
ɡe yèwǎn yěshì lànɡmàn yuēhuì de hǎo shíkè. xīnpénɡ jiùyǒu yě yīncǐ
xiānɡjù，nánɡuài zhōnɡqiūjié duìyú nàxiē xiānɡxìn yuèliɑnɡ de shénmì  
lìliànɡ de rén láishuō yǒuzhe tèshū yìyì.

Families get together to eat moon cakes and celebrate the end of the harvest
season on this day. Scholars write poems about the moon. This night is also
made for romantic rendezvous. Friendships are made and renewed. No wonder
the August Moon Festival has a special meaning to all who believe in the
mystical powers of the moon.

11.

中秋节最早是什么时候开始庆祝的？目前古籍
资料上还没有找到确切时间，但学者们认为
这跟中国的两个习俗有关。
zhōnɡqiūjié zuìzǎo shì shénme shíhou kāishǐqìnɡzhùde？mùqián ɡǔjí
zīliàoshànɡ háiméi yǒu zhǎodào quèqiè shíjiān，dàn xuézhěmen rènwéi
zhè ɡēn zhōnɡɡuó de liǎnɡɡè xísú yǒuɡuān.
When did this festival first begin? No exact date can be found in historical
documents, but scholars assume that it is related to 2 customs in China.

12.

第一个习俗是关于农民的，中国是一个农业大国，
在古代，农民们春天撒种播种时会向土地之
神祈祷丰收。这就是著名的春日祭祀。到了秋天，
人们会再次祭祀土地之神，感谢他给予人们丰收，
这就是著名的秋日祭祀，因为阴历 8 月 15 日是
水稻成熟之时，所以有些人认为中秋节是从
秋日祭祀仪式演变而来的。
dìyíɡè xísú shì ɡuānyú nónɡmín de，zhōnɡɡuó shì yíɡè nónɡyè dàɡuó，
zài ɡǔdài，nónɡmínmen chūntiān sǎzhǒnɡ bōzhǒnɡ shí huì xiànɡ tǔdì zhī
shén qídǎo fēnɡshōu。zhè jiùshì zhùmínɡde chūnrì jìsì。Dàole qiūtiān，
rénmen huì zàicì jìsì tǔdìzhīshén，ɡǎnxiè tā jíyǔ rénmen fēnɡshōu，
zhè jiùshì zhùmínɡ de qiūrì jìsì，yīnwèi yīnlì 8 yuè 15 rì shì
shuǐdào chénɡshu zhīshí，suóyǐ yǒuxiērén rènwéi zhōnɡqiūjié shì cónɡ
qiūrìjìsì yíshì yǎnbiàn érlái de.

The first custom concerns farmers. China is an agricultural country, in ancient

times, farmers worshipped the Earth God to pray for a good harvest, when they
sowed the seeds in spring. This was known as spring worship. During autumn,
farmers also worshipped the Earth God to thank him for giving them a good
harvest. This was known as autumn reward. Since the 15'" month of the 8th
month is the time when rice paddies are harvested, some people believe that the
Mid Autumn Festival came from the autumn reward ritual.

13.

第二个习俗与祭祀月亮有关。根据天文学，中秋节
是秋分之时。在这个时候，太阳直射赤道，南北
半球昼夜平分。月亮在晚上出现，云淡风轻，
是观月的最佳时机。后来人们就把这一天定为
祭祀月亮的日子。
dì èr ɡè xísú yǔ jìsì yuèliɑnɡ yǒuɡuān. ɡēnjù tiānwénxué，zhōnɡqiūjié
shì qiūfēn zhīshí. Zài zhè ɡe shíhou，tàiyánɡ zhíshè chìdào，nánběi
bànqiú zhòuyè pínɡfēn. yuèliɑnɡ zài wǎnshɑnɡ chūxiàn，yúndànfēnɡqīnɡ，
shì ɡuānyuè de zuìjiā shíjī. Hòulái rénmen jiù bǎ zhè yìtiān dìnɡwéi
jìsì yuèliɑnɡ de rìzi。

The second custom concerns worship of the moon. According to astronomy, the
Mid Autumn Festival occurs at the autumn equinox. At this time, the sunlight
shines vertically on the equator, equally dividing the day and night in both the
southern and northern hemispheres. The moon appears in the evening with
gentle winds and light clouds. This is the best time to watch the moon. People
later made this day, the day to worship the moon.