Autumn is the season
Tonight is the night
A splendid full moon
in the perfect spot—
and you gazing upon it
They say the full moon in mid-autumn always seems to burn the brightest. Poets gather to catch its reflection in the garden pond. Musicians seek to capture its elusive beauty in a tranquil melody. As for lovers, they may just prefer to stroll together along the quiet Garden paths and reflect upon their own good fortune—even though they cannot linger forever in this world of earthly delights.
In Japan, the moon disappearing behind the clouds is a metaphor for the fleeting beauty of life. You may have seen Japanese paintings in which monkeys are depicted dipping their hands into the water to try to catch the reflection of the full moon. This, too, is a Zen Buddhist metaphor for always reaching for things that are not what they seem—material things that are illusions that keep us from grasping what is important in life. Depicted in poetry and painted in gold on lacquered trays, the autumn moon has captured the imagination of the Japanese for over a thousand years—a symbol of this most melancholy of seasons when summer days fade to gray.
For centuries, the full moon at harvest time has been celebrated in agricultural societies around the world. Around the time of the Autumnal Equinox, the moon comes up right around sunset, which enabled farmers to continue working on their harvests into the evening hours. Many cultures hold festivals in celebration of the Harvest Moon.
In Japan, as early as the 7th century, there is a record of aristocratic moonviewing ceremonies and parties held in the gardens of the Imperial Court. Ponds were constructed on which the aristocrats could float along in decorated boats at sunset to enjoy the reflection of the full moon on the waters. In Japan, it is said that the moon is even more beautiful half hidden behind the clouds. It is suggestive, rather than explicit, and is said to spark the creative imagination. This custom originated in China centuries earlier, as did the custom of listening to traditional music, and writing poems in beautiful calligraphy to express the beauty of the full moon.
