Reviews for Poems of the Masters: China's Classic Anthology of T'ang and Sung Dynasty Verse

The average rating for Poems of the Masters: China's Classic Anthology of T'ang and Sung Dynasty Verse based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-11-13 00:00:00 Barbara Welling Meng Hao-jan (689 - 740) Sleeping in spring oblivious of dawn everywhere I hear birds after the wind and rain last night I wonder how many petals fell ---- Li Pai (701-762) Before my bed the light is so bright it looks like a layer of frost lifting my head I gaze at the moon lying back down I think of home - My white hair extends three miles the sorrow of parting made it this long looking in a mirror who would guess where autumn frost comes from - Dark hills stretch beyond the north rampart clear water circles the city's east wall from this place where farewell begins a tumbleweed leaves on a thousand-mile journey drifting clouds in a traveler's thoughts the setting sun in an old friend's heart as we wave and say goodbye our parting horses neigh ---- Ch'en Tzu-ang (661-702) As black smoke coils from silver candles we raise gold cups across silk mats our thoughts are like zithers in this hall of parting following a path over mountains and streams the bright moon sinks below tall trees the River of Stars vanishes at dawn the road to Loyang leads so far away what year will it lead back again ---- Tu Fu (712-770) Visiting my father in East District I finally looked out from South Tower clouds stretched beyond Taishan to the sea barren land spread through Hsu and Chingchou the outline of the stele of Ch'in was still there the walls of Lu Palace were rubble I've always been drawn to the past but this time my heart trembled ---- Wang An-shih (1021-1086) Firecracker sounds chase the Year away spring wind infuses herbal wine with warmth outside countless doorways in the rising sun new peach prints are pasted over last year's charms ---- Lin Hung (fl. 1250) At court the royal robes reflect the sun and moon banner shadows move like dragons on the inkstones the length and breadth of rites and music in three thousand words line the cinnabar steps before the sun goes down ---- Su Shih (1037-1101) The East Wind gently spreads her celestial glow the moon slips behind her veil of perfumed mist afraid this flower won't stay up much longer I light a tall candle to view her crimson face ---- Yeh Shao-weng (fl. 1200-1250) It must be because he hates clogs on his moss I knocked ten times still his gate stayed closed but spring can't be kept locked in a garden a branch of red blossoms reached past the wall ---- Chu Shu-chen (d. 1233) Whenever intertwined branches bloom the jealous wind and rain strip away their flowers if only the King of Green could perpetuate his rule they wouldn't end up scattered across the moss ---- Ts'ai Ch'ueh (1037-1093) A paper screen a stone pillow a square bamboo bed a book falls from my hand during a midday dream I wake up pleased and smile to myself at the sound of a fisherman's flute on the waves ---- Lu Mei-p'o (Sung dynasty) The plum and the snow both claim the spring a poet gives up trying to decide the plum must admit the snow is three times whiter but the snow can't match a wisp of plum perfume - The plum without the snow isn't very special and snow without a poem is simply commonplace at sunset when the poem is done then it snows again together with the plum they complete the spring ---- Huang T'ing-chien (1045-1105) Peach and plum trees smile on Chingming Day weed-choked fields and graves can only sigh thunder wakes the serpents in the earth and sky rain fills the countryside with tender new plants one begged for funeral scraps and tried to fool his wife another died in flames rather than be enfeoffed after a thousand years was the fool or wise man right both share the same bramble-covered hills ---- Kao Chu (fl. 1200) Hillsides north and south are overrun with graves sweeping rites on Chingming are nothing but a mess paper ashes fly like snow-white butterflies tears from broken hearts stain azaleas red foxes sleep in tombs once the sun goes down children play in lamplight on the way back home who has wine this life should drink until they're drunk no drop has ever reached the ninefold springs below

Review # 2 was written on 2017-08-04 00:00:00 David Corsi For eight centuries, this anthology of Tang (618 CE - 906) and Sung (960-1278) dynasty poetry has been the most commonly taught and memorized collection of verse in China. Here are some bits I especially liked: 54: The Meditation Hall Behind Poshan Temple - Ch'ang Chien I entered an ancient temple at dawn the rising sun lit the tall trees a trail led off to a secluded place to a meditation hall in a flowering wood where mountain light pleased the heart of birds and pond reflections stilled men's minds the ten thousand noises were hushed all I heard was a bell 93: Occasional Poem on the Arrival of Spring - Chang Shih The light is back the year is past ice and frost are rare plants and trees know spring is in the world we see the force of life spread before our eyes The East Wind blowing water ripples green 135: Waking Up in Early Summer - Yang Wan Li The sour trace of plums squirts between my teeth The light green of bananas fills my window screen waking up at noon without a thought or care I sit and watch my children chasing willow fuzz 163: Reflections While Reading - I - Chu Hsi A small square pond an uncovered mirror where sunlight and clouds linger and leave I asked how it stays so clear it said spring water keeps flowing in