Lotus Pond by Moonlight is a famous lyrical prose piece written by Zhu Ziqing during his tenure at Tsinghua University. Renowned for its inclusion in Chinese middle school literature curricula, it stands as a classic of modern Chinese prose. The essay vividly describes the serene beauty of a lotus pond under moonlight while subtly expressing the author’s dissatisfaction with reality, yearning for freedom, and struggle to transcend life’s constraints. It captures the sentiments of upright intellectuals in old China, navigating hardships while aspiring for progress, and reflects Zhu’s admiration for the tranquil scenery alongside his political ideals. (Essays & Prose/Painting)