Which One Do You Like Most Among Chinese Classical Poets

[worldwalker]

Hi all!
I am a fan of chinese classical literature, especially of it's poems. And my favorite poet is Tu Fu, for his perfect technique and greatful concern about his people. I am curious about how do you think of chinese classical poems, Which poet do youl like most, for what?

[Moira]

I'm not familiar with any of them.
How about posting some poems?

[Night Closet]

Hi all!
I am a fan of chinese classical literature, especially of it's poems. And my favorite poet is Tu Fu, for his perfect technique and greatful concern about his people. I am curious about how do you think of chinese classical poems, Which poet do youl like most, for what?


i really don't know anything about it ,but how about publishing some of them.....let us love it like you..........lol

[Expecto]

To best comprehend the quintessence of Chinese classical literature, esp. poetry, you'd better learn Chinese. It's tough, I know, but of great fun.

[Moira]

To best comprehend the quintessence of Chinese classical literature, esp. poetry, you'd better learn Chinese. It's tough, I know, but of great fun.

Hmm ..... at this point i think i will never be able to speak the language. I' ve tried a few lessons and the pronunciation seems impossible to me, not to mention the ideograms/characters.:(
So i don't know about the fun part, that comes after a long long time:).

[Expecto]

Hmm ..... at this point i think i will never be able to speak the language. I' ve tried a few lessons and the pronunciation seems impossible to me, not to mention the ideograms/characters.:(
So i don't know about the fun part, that comes after a long long time:).

Impossible is nothing! lol... Interest can be the biggest motivation when learning sth. really difficult, right? Gain passion over the language and have fun learning it!

[Moira]

Impossible is nothing! lol... Interest can be the biggest motivation when learning sth. really difficult, right? Gain passion over the language and have fun learning it!

:) You're right, i haven't given up, just had a bad start i guess.......
I'm interested enough since i will be living there for a year, and i like to talk:lol: :lol: :lol: .

[worldwalker]

Almost no transition in English is satisfying. I insist on that Chinese is something worthy to learn, although it's so tough. China is profound and extensive at it's clssical culture, such as philosophy,literature, paint and calligraphy. Here is the famous website of poetry in China: .lingshidao.com There are many chinese classical poetry in English as well as English poetry in Chinese. Hope you enjoy some Chinese peotry through it.

[RobinHood3000]

Li Po, most definitely. (Known sometimes Li Tai Bai)

[NickAdams]

I haven't read many classical Chinese poets, or their poems, but I like the first line from Du Fu's Facing Snow:

After the battle, many new ghosts cry,

[uranderson]

Kenneth Rexroth has some very good english translations of Tu Fu and others. Written on the Wall at Chang's Hermitage is one of my favorites and can be found here (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=54431535).

edit: there is an annoying popup when you follow the link, just click "start reading" and you'll be set.

This link (http://books.google.com/books?id=UwsLm1IkpJAC&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=written+on+the+wall+at+chang's+hermitage&source=web&ots=-evDxyL8aB&sig=oD4_I3u3WtN2HSdYAbb5t9JwN5w#PPA33,M1)is better because you can scoll up or down to see other poems and poets. Li Po's just above is very good and somewhat famous.

[NickAdams]

Great stuff. Thank you. I've been having trouble writing a short story, but the put it in perspective for me.

[Demian]

Chan Sei Chow was a boy befriended by an English missionary. She translated his poems and had them published in one small book. This is from memory, so consider it a transliteration:

A bowl full of rice,
A lotus leaf in hand-
I lay back on my hammock
and sway with my love for God.

[drunkenKOALA]

Do you guys read these poems in Chinese? There is so much lost in translation.

[Clouder]

It is nice to know that some people here appreciate chinese acient poetry. Li Bai, Du Fu are all from Tsang(Tang) dynasty, which is one of the splendid era for chinese literature especially for the poetry. Personally, I love Song Ci (a literature form in Song dynasty, between poetry and prose, need to follow strict writing rules as well; the rhythm in Ci is more preferrable for me).

Genearlly, chinese poetry is also so interwined with songs and traditional instruments, and each era(traced back to 2000 years ago) has its own unique styles and transformations. I've read a little bit of English translations, which is however quite literal and losts the metaphoric meanings and "behind" beauty. Another reason is that Chinese has 4 different tunes for each character, which is lost too. But I do appreciate translators' efforts. I myself might start doing a bit bidirectional translations now and then, which is always quite interesting, since there is a huge creative space left in between.

Here are just a couple of links:
http://www.chinapage.org/poet-e/english.html
http://www.chinapage.com/poetry9.html

Hope you enjoy it.

There is an anecdote about Chinese poetry (Tsang Dynasty) and Pink Floyd's first album lyrics - Piper at the Gates of Down. Some lyrics are inspired by chinese poetry or even the translation. That's quite interesting! :)
http://www.cjvlang.com/Pfloyd/index.html

[blazeofglory]

Hi all!
I am a fan of chinese classical literature, especially of it's poems. And my favorite poet is Tu Fu, for his perfect technique and greatful concern about his people. I am curious about how do you think of chinese classical poems, Which poet do youl like most, for what?

Actually I can not remember what i read of Chinese poets and I do not even recall their names, but they were really absorbing and I was immensely excited.
Tao was a great thinker and poet too, and I really like Taoism greatly.

Lu shun is a modern poet whose stories and poems I have read.

Please give me the site i can visit TU FU and enjoy reading his poems. For I am a passionate reader of poems. Nothing appeals to me more than poems.