🌙 Poem “Jing Ye Si” & Painting Project Instruction Sheet

Instructor: Dr. Ling-Ling Shih

Title: 静夜思 (Jìng Yè Sī) — “Thoughts on a Quiet Night”

📝 Objective:

You will combine Chinese calligraphy and art to express the imagery and emotion of Li Bai’s famous Tang dynasty poem 静夜思 (Thoughts on a Quiet Night).

🖌️ Part 1: Calligraphy Writing

Instructions:

1. Use your calligraphy brush and black ink on rice paper.

2. Write out the entire poem 静夜思 carefully in Chinese characters only (no pinyin, no English).

3. Write the title “静夜思” at the top center of your page in slightly larger characters.

4. Maintain proper character spacing and brush stroke order.

🎨 Part 2: Painting the Imagery

Instructions:

1. Below or beside your poem, create a traditional Chinese-style painting that illustrates the mood and imagery of the poem.

2. You may include:
  – The bright moon shining in the night sky
  – Frost-like moonlight reflected on the ground
  – A lonely traveler or poet gazing toward the moon, thinking of home

3. Use your calligraphy brush and ink (you may add light color if available).

4. Your artwork should reflect the peaceful, reflective mood of the poem.

✍️ Part 3: Signature

At the bottom corner of your painting:
– Write your Chinese name (if you have one) using calligraphy brush.
– Below it, write your English name neatly.

📜 Reference Poem (for study only — do NOT copy this onto your final artwork)

静夜思

李白 (Lǐ Bái)

床前明月光，
疑是地上霜。
举头望明月，
低头思故乡。

(Translation for understanding only:
Before my bed, the moonlight glows,
I wonder if it’s frost upon the ground.
I lift my head to gaze at the bright moon,
Then lower it, thinking of my hometown.)

📅 Due Date:

_______________________

🖼️ Materials Needed (Provided in class)

– Calligraphy brush
– Ink
– Rice paper or calligraphy paper
– a paper to protect the desk (Place the rice paper on top of a computer paper.)

Note: This assignment is AI assisted.

Student Work Samples: