1.
sixteenth night moon, night after the full moon
The night of the sixteenth day of the lunar month, when the moon rises slightly later than the full moon of the fifteenth night.
Etymology
The word 十六夜 comes from the verb いざよう (to hesitate, to linger), because the moon seems to 'hesitate' before rising on this night, appearing later than the previous night's full moon.
Poetic significance
In classical Japanese poetry and culture, specific nights of the lunar month have names. The 十五夜 (fifteenth night) is the full moon, and 十六夜 follows it. This reflects the traditional Japanese appreciation for the phases of the moon.
Moon phase names
- 十五夜: full moon (15th night)
- 十六夜: 16th night
- 立待月: 17th night
- 居待月: 18th night