In the autumn of the year of Renxu, on the sixteenth day of the seventh month, Su Shi and his friends were boating and playing under the Red Cliffs. The clear breeze blew softly, but the water was still. They raised their wine cups and toasted each other, reciting articles related to the bright moon, singing praises to this beautiful sight. Before long, the bright moon rose from behind the eastern mountain and wandered between Ursa Major and Taurus. The white mist hung over the river, and the clear water connected with the sky. The small boat drifted on the endless river, as if riding on the wind, not knowing where to stop, floating like a discarded worldly thing, detached and independent, becoming an immortal entering the fairyland.
At this moment, they enjoyed the wine and cheered, tapping the gunwale with their hands. The song goes, "The fragrant laurel oars of the cinnamon boat, hitting the bright glittering waves, my heart is far away, looking for the lover in the end of the world." A guest who could play the Dongxiao accompanied them with the melody, making a mournful sound like affectionate sadness and devotion, like crying and telling, with the ending sad, melodious and long, like an endless thin thread, that could make the dragons dance in the deep valley and make the widows on the lonely boat cry. Su Shi looked melancholy and asked the guest why the Dongxiao sounded so sad. The guest replied, "Isn't it a poem by Cao Gong and Meng De, about the bright moon and sparse stars, the crows flying south? You can see Xiakou to the west and Wuchang to the east, where the mountains and rivers stretch endlessly, everything is lush and green, isn't this the place where Cao Mengde was besieged by Zhou Yu? He conquered Jingzhou, captured Jiangling, sailed down the Yangtze River, and his warships spanned thousands of miles, his banner covered the sky, drinking and reciting poems with his spear in hand. He was really a hero of his time, but where is he now? And we, cutting wood and fishing on the water's edge, making friends with fish and deer, driving this small boat, raising our glasses to each other, like a mayfly in the vast world, as small as a grain of wheat in the ocean. Alas, I lament that our life is only a momentary flash, and envy that the Yangtze River is endless. I wish I could travel around with immortals and embrace the bright moon forever in this world. But I know this is impossible and can only be left in the sorrowful autumn wind."
Su Shi asked, "Do you also know about the water and moon? The constantly flowing river is like the moon that waxes and wanes, but it ultimately doesn't increase or decrease. From the perspective of things that change, there isn’t a moment in which nothing changes in the universe. However, from the perspective of things that are permanent, all things have boundless life just like ourselves, so what is there to envy? Moreover, everything in this world has its own place. If it's not what we should have, even a fraction of it can't be taken. Only the clear wind on the river and the bright moon in the mountains can be heard and seen. These are the endless treasures bestowed by the Creator, we can enjoy them together without anyone stopping us." The guest smiled happily, cleaned up the cups and poured more wine. The dishes and fruits were all eaten, and only the cups and dishes on the table were messy. Su Shi and his friends slept on the boat, resting their heads and sleeping without realizing that the horizon was already showing white (meaning dawn had broken).