Yue Qing wei

First Rain at Dawn: 晴后雨 is an editorial that pays tribute to the origins of Yue Qing Wei - aiming to unfold the true essence of Chinese names and literature, sharing it with those who are yet to understand it.

The character Qing, known as 晴, was inspired by the poem “drinking on the west lake”. The poet describes the west lake as radiant and fine on this sunny day, where ripples of the lake shimmer through rays of sunshine. Gazing upon the surroundings of misty hills, it starts to rain. In awe, the west lake appears peculiar, even on this rainy day. West Lake is like Xi Shi’s beauty. Whether adorned or not, it is pretty.

Yue and Qing are characters that represent the sun and moon: the flow of time and space, day and night. In Chinese, we call it tian di qian kun 天地乾坤, the belief in balancing forces, matching pairs, such as heaven and earth, yin and yang, which work together toward a full circulation.

The choreographed compositions shared between the two models represent balancing forces, yin, and yang. The different sets and contrasting lighting embodies the poetic scenes of the misty hills, rippling water, and transitioning tones of dawn.

 The first rain is that moment of recognition, where one truly understands the beauty that underlies beneath every moment of reconciliation, disconnection, and rebirth. Dawn is the transition from night to day as the morning twilight brightens the sky. The first rain initiates the transitioning of dawn, making every rotation a circulation of infinite force and harmony.

First rain at dawn, we are seen just as becoming.