The most famous work under the title "The Moon over the River on a Spring Night" is a seven-syllable yuefu style long poem by Tang dynasty poet Zhang Ruoxu.
The poem depicts the scenery of the moonlit riverside on a spring night, with elegant wording, a lofty rhythm, and a sophisticated undertone.
"[1] In the early 20th century during the Republic of China era, a traditional pipa piece "Xiao Gu in the Sunset" (夕阳箫鼓) was adapted into a duet for erhu and guzheng, and renamed "The Moon over the River on a Spring Night."
Zhang Ruoxu's poem itself was once adapted into a Chinese orchestral music piece by conductor/composer Peng Xiuwen and was widely circulated.
[2] It gained attention in literary circles starting from the Ming dynasty when Li Panlong included it in the Anthology of Tang Poems (唐诗选).
In the Qing dynasty, Wang Kaiyun elevated it to the status of "a one-of-a-kind piece, ultimately becoming a masterpiece," [3] a review that has been adopted by later critics.
Wen held that this poem set the path for High Tang poetry, making it an "invaluable accomplishment".
Enthralled by the moonlight shed on the river, the poet transcended human sentimentality and delved into a contemplation of the ultimate reality of the cosmos.
No dust has stained the water blending with the skies; A lonely wheel like moon shines brilliant far and wide.