Six hundred years ago, Zhu Di ascended Wansui Hill and gazed down upon the myriad lights of the Forbidden City. Three hundred years ago, the Qianlong Emperor strolled beneath the White Dagoba, listening to the drifting chant of Buddhist sutras as a few startled crows rose into the cold air. Tonight, on the Lantern Festival, red lanterns hang from willow branches, and the night sky gradually takes on the background hue of an ancient silk painting. At the moment of greatest eclipse, the dark-red shadow of the moon appears like […]

Night spreads slowly above the corner tower of the Forbidden City. The moon is drawn inch by inch into shadow. Its silver fades, until it becomes a crimson disc. At totality, even the moat and the wind hold their breath. When the light returns, scales of radiance dance upon the water, and the eaves are caressed by moonlight once more. The moon waxes and wanes, sometimes bright, sometimes dim; People mortals part and reunite, sometimes near, sometimes far. The corner tower still stands, watching through the ages as union and […]