Gazing at the moonlit Katsura River, imagine the scene 1200 years ago. Here at Kaede Bridge, or Maple Bridge, a lone traveler’s boat gently drifts. The air is crisp. The crows caw in the rustling trees. This is the scene immortalized in Zhang Ji’s poem, “Fengqiao Night Moor.” Kaede Bridge, known as Fengqiao in Chinese, is more than a physical bridge. It’s a bridge through time, connecting us to a poignant moment in history. Zhang Ji, a scholar and official, failed the imperial examinations. Disheartened, he journeyed south. He found himself moored one cold autumn night near Kaede Bridge. He captured the scene in his poem: the setting moon, the frosty air, the cries of crows, the flickering fishing fires, and the distant sound of a temple bell. The bell comes from Hanshan Temple, located southeast of Kaede Bridge. The bell’s mournful toll drifts across the water, reaching the traveler’s boat. It speaks of loneliness and the passage of time. It is a sound that echoes through centuries, touching the hearts of those who hear its story. Zhang Ji’s poem, “Fengqiao Night Moor,” resonates with themes of travel, solitude, and the bittersweet beauty of a fleeting moment. The poem became famous after being included in the anthology “Three Hundred Tang Poems.” This fame transformed Kaede Bridge from a simple crossing into a literary landmark.
旧守口市立下島小学校
Shimojima Elementary School’s bell echoed one last time in March 2024. This marked the end of its 49-year history. It