Origin
Both the lyrics of the two versions of the Song to the Auspicious Cloud was based on a song written in Commentary of Shangshu, which was said to be sung by the ancient Chinese emperor Shun when he demised his seats to Yu. Its original lyrics was in classical Chinese:
- "卿雲爛兮，糺縵縵兮。日月光華，旦復旦兮。"
"How bright is the Auspicious Cloud. How broad is the brilliancy.
The light is spectacular with sun or moon. How it revives dawn after dawn."
The image of the song symbolized transfer and changing, which referred to the noble demise system of Chinese emperor relinquishing seats to others in Yao and Shun's era before the hereditary system of monarchy in ancient Chinese legends. After overthrowing the monarchy, the lyrics of the classical Song to the Auspicious Cloud was favored by many people to be the national anthem of the new republic.
Read more about this topic: The Song To The Auspicious Cloud
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