Japanese Literature in Chinese: Poetry and Prose in Chinese by Japanese Writers of the Early Period

by Burton Watson (Translator)

English, Chinese (translation)

Hardcover

First published April 15, 1976

About the author

Burton Watson was an American sinologist, translator, and writer renowned for his English translations of Chinese and Japanese literature. Over his prolific career, he brought classical works of poetry, philosophy, and history to a wider audience, earning numerous accolades, including the PEN Translation Prize and the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation.
Born in New Rochelle, New York, Watson served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before studying Chinese at Columbia University. He later moved to Japan, where he worked as a scholar and translator, remaining there for most of his life. His translations, influenced by Arthur Waley and Ezra Pound, emphasized clarity and poetic resonance. Among his most notable works are translations of The Analects of Confucius, Records of the Grand Historian, The Lotus Sutra, Cold Mountain: 100 Poems by Han Shan, and The Tale of the Heike.
Watson’s work played a crucial role in introducing Chinese and Japanese literary traditions to the English-speaking world, and his translations continue to be regarded as both scholarly and literary achievements.

Reviews

[Chant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so much a review but a complaint about Goodreads. Japanese Literature in Chinese is in TWO volumes and not one. I can't figure out how to reorganize the metadata to reflect this as this book counts for both volume 1 and volume 2. Very frustrating.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Volume 1:
Just brilliant, the section on Sugawara no Michizane is esp good and the translations moving.