May is the month to honor laborers worldwide—a celebration of humanity’s enduring efforts to create the world, wealth, and a fulfilling life through work. For centuries, Chinese poets and artists have immortalized the beauty and joy of labor, expressing profound respect and admiration for the diligence of ordinary people.

Tao Yuanming, known for his refusal to compromise his principles, chose a life of farming and infused his poetry with the charm of rural labor. In Returning to My Farm, he writes:

“Beneath the southern mountains, I sow beans;
The grass grows thick, and the bean shoots are sparse.  Rising early to clear the weeds, I return home, my hoe carried beneath the moonlight.  The path is narrow, the vegetation lush, Evening dew moistens my clothes.  I care not for my damp garments, As long as my aspirations are fulfilled.”

The poem’s simplicity and sincerity reveal Tao’s deep love for pastoral life and the pleasure he finds in rural labor, reflecting a sense of contentment and tranquility. Similarly, in Harvesting Early Rice, he reminds us of the essential value of self-reliance:

“One’s path in life must be grounded,
For sustenance is life’s foundation.
Who can afford to idle,
If one seeks peace through self-reliance?”
These verses emphasize the importance of diligence and personal effort in achieving a sustainable and fulfilling life. In Watching the Harvest, Bai Juyi vividly portrays the hardships of agricultural labor:

“Few leisure days for farming families,
In May, their toil doubles.
Last night, the southern wind rose,
Turning wheat fields golden.
Women carry food baskets,
Children bring water jugs.
Together, they head to the fields,
While men labor on the southern ridge.
Their feet are scorched by the heated earth,
Their backs burned by the blazing sun.
Exhausted, they feel no heat,
Only grateful for the long summer days.”

This depiction of May’s wheat harvest captures the unity and dedication of farming families. Despite the grueling conditions of the fields, they embrace the extended daylight hours to maximize their efforts.

In Chinese art, numerous works celebrate the spirit of labor. Examples include Zhang Xuan’s Silk Beating Diagram from the Tang Dynasty and Lou Shu’s Tilling and Weaving Pictures from the Southern Song Dynasty. Today, we turn our attention to East Coast Villagers by Chung Chen Sun.

This painting captures a moment of rest for five Malaysian villagers after labor. Two men in blue converse casually, while two figures nearby listen attentively. On the left, a woman in white listens as she sorts fruit. Though painted in an expressive, freehand style, the piece is meticulously detailed—each figure wears distinct clothing adorned with stripes or dots, and their postures and expressions convey unique personalities. The artist’s inscription reads:

“The life of East Coast villagers, rich in charm and a world of its own, deserves to be captured in art.”

Labor is honorable, and the simple yet fulfilling lives of these villagers make for an inspiring subject. As the Chinese proverb says:

“Prosperity has no roots; it is cultivated through diligence.”

Loving and respecting labor remains a cherished virtue of Chinese culture. Wishing everyone a joyous Labor Day!