新禪院鐘聲

By 張衞健

雲寒雨冷寂寥夜半景色悽清
荒山悄靜依稀隱約傳來了夜半鍾
鐘聲驚破夢更難成
是誰令我愁難馨非莫馨
情如泡影 鴛鴦夢 三生約
何堪追認舊愛一朝斷
傷心哀我負愛抱恨決心逃情
禪院宵宵嘆孤影
仿似杜宇哀聲泣血夜半鳴
隱居澗絕嶺 菩提伴我苦敲經
凡塵世俗那堪復聽 情似煙輕
禪心修佛性 夢幻已今朝醒
情根愛根 恨根怨根
春花怕賦詠 情絲愛絲
愁絲怨絲 秋月怕留情
情心早化灰 禪心都經潔靜
為愛為情恨似病 對花對月懷前程
徒追憶 花月證 情人負我
變心負約太不應 相思當初枉心傾
怨句妹妹太薄倖 禪院鐘聲
深宵獨聽 夜半有恨人已淚盈盈
About This Song

The song "" (New Zen Temple Bell Sound) by (Zhang Weijian) eloquently captures the intricate emotions of love, loss, and yearning, set against a serene yet melancholic backdrop. The main theme revolves around the profound sense of isolation and heartbreak that one experiences in the solitude of night, marked by the haunting sound of a temple bell. It explores the feelings of regret and nostalgia intertwined with the reflections of past relationships, presenting a poignant narrative of love as a double-edged sword that evokes both joy and sorrow.

In this evocative piece, the story measures the emotional turmoil of a lover whose heartache echoes in the silence of the night, symbolized by the striking bell. The lyrics poignantly convey a sense of helplessness and longing, suggesting a struggle between the desire to hold on to cherished memories and the painful acceptance of their impermanence. The repeated imagery of dream-like states and the relentless passage of time further underscores the central message: the inevitability of change and the often-unattainable pursuit of love.

Musically, "" employs a blend of traditional Chinese instruments and contemporary melodies, creating an atmospheric soundscape that enhances its reflective nature. Lyrically, Zhang Weijian utilizes vivid imagery and metaphor, such as references to the seasons and the natural world, to deepen the emotional resonance of the song. This nuanced approach to lyricism invites listeners to not only feel the narrator's pain but to reflect on their experiences of love and loss.

Culturally, this song taps into the rich heritage of Chinese poetry and philosophy, particularly the notions of Zen and spiritual introspection. The bell sound, a significant motif in many Eastern traditions, represents both a call to mindfulness and a marker of passing time, reinforcing the themes of impermanence and spiritual awakening. As such, "" serves not only as a personal lament but also as a broader commentary on the universal human condition, making it deeply significant in both artistic and cultural contexts.