lyrics written by S. Luk in Coquitlam, B.C. completed: 1:17 a.m. June 3, 2009

This lyrics was inspired by and closely mirrored the work “The Beautiful Lady Yu” (虞美人) of Li Yu 李煜 (937AD to 978 AD), more commonly known as 南唐李後主. Li Yu was the last monarch of the Southern Tang Kingdom (南唐) from 961 AD to 975 AD during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (五代十國) of China. He was defeated and held captive in present-day Kaifeng (開封) by an expanding kingdom that eventually united China and found the Sung Dynasty (北宋). Li Yu lacked military skills, but was talented in writing “ci” (詞). His works had earned upmost respect from Chinese literature scholars of various eras. After repeatedly humiliated by his captor (including raping his wife), Li Yu wrote several sentimental but touchy “ci” that offended his captor. It was this ci that cost him his life. The line "故國不堪回首月明中" was interpreted as an expression of resentment against losing his country and throne. His captor (宋太宗) executed him by poison during a banquet in 978AD.

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