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The Shambhala Anthology of Chinese Poetry
In traditional Chinese culture, poetic artistry held a place that was unrivaled by any other single talent, and was a source of prestige and even of political power. In this rich collection, J. P. Seaton introduces the reader to the main styles of Chinese poetry and the major poets, from the classic Shih Ching to the twentieth century. Seaton has a poet's ear, and his translations here are fresh and vivid.
- GenresPoetryChinaNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2006
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About the author
J.P. Seaton
14 books3 followersProfessor of Chinese, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 20, 2019
A comprehensive collection that is not only interesting for the poetry but also for its description of Chinese history. Before I read this book I figured Chinese poetry was all about moons, mountains, forests and fisherman. Turns out there's also a lot of drinking, wandering, hermits, homesickness, playing the lute and gray hair. (I read it on the heels of Empress of Bright Moon, which gave it some interesting context too.)
July 20, 2024
Something must be said in, regards to reading a poem written in 1122 BCE during the Zhou Dynasty.
Can Classic Chinese poetry act as a bridge between poetry and the modern human being? I feel this book is one such bridge, a Time Machine, a telephone box that travels back in time to 1122 BCE, taking the reader from 2024 on a journey that all humans are no different. You could be thousands of years from the author who scribbled with ink their ideas and thoughts. And through the structure of poetry feel as though you have stumbled upon them by accident, as they sit for tea. You may, if your imagination is willing, almost hear them mumbling as they struggle to put deep and intense emotions into a framework that we call poetry. I like to think this is possible, a way to connect with humanity in the modern age and from long ago, as a viable part of humanity as a whole. No longer separate, villainized or degraded, but human. Just as human as I am, with just as many deep feelings, frustrations, pain, sorrow, excitement and joy. That seeing a beautiful girl at the corner shop illicit the same emotions as it does now. Maybe that hearts can speak all languages if we are willing to look and to listen, read and enjoy. I certainly do hope so.
The author simplified the very essence of the Chinese language. An important aspect in order to understand the poems themselves. The history is brief, albeit a depth and beauty of the actual Chinese language, the symbology they used, and the depth and exquisite expression of the poems as written expressions of art.
As a hobby of mine is to understand the universal visual and symbolic aspects that all languages contain, this book is a gem. As a lover of poetry, this meets my hankering for something beyond the scope of modern poetry.
Reading the introduction and then diving into the poems themselves, I suddenly felt as if thousdans of years no longer existed between myself and the author. The story is the same as ours, the feelings just as complex, deep and frustrating as ours.
This book I feel is a bridge between cultures, centuries and people who speak completely different languages.
I feel if you can see that every language, culture and people, all had to create a way to communicate and it usually began with pictures, symbols, signs, lines, dots, and drawings. It becomes clear that all humans have felt the same at some point in the life.
The modern age is not so modern when you read the poems so beautifully translated in this book.
For Example: The Pheasants Song at the very beginning. "Sumps, we get to work; sundowns, we get our rest. Dig wells and drink, plow fields, to eat: what has some "emperor" to do with us?"
I don't know about you, but I can relate. We go to work, we do our work, we do our work so we can eat, and really what does a king/emperor/politician really have to do with us? There is no longer a gap between 2024 and 1122 now is there!
An amazing book, I am truly enjoying it.
Can Classic Chinese poetry act as a bridge between poetry and the modern human being? I feel this book is one such bridge, a Time Machine, a telephone box that travels back in time to 1122 BCE, taking the reader from 2024 on a journey that all humans are no different. You could be thousands of years from the author who scribbled with ink their ideas and thoughts. And through the structure of poetry feel as though you have stumbled upon them by accident, as they sit for tea. You may, if your imagination is willing, almost hear them mumbling as they struggle to put deep and intense emotions into a framework that we call poetry. I like to think this is possible, a way to connect with humanity in the modern age and from long ago, as a viable part of humanity as a whole. No longer separate, villainized or degraded, but human. Just as human as I am, with just as many deep feelings, frustrations, pain, sorrow, excitement and joy. That seeing a beautiful girl at the corner shop illicit the same emotions as it does now. Maybe that hearts can speak all languages if we are willing to look and to listen, read and enjoy. I certainly do hope so.
The author simplified the very essence of the Chinese language. An important aspect in order to understand the poems themselves. The history is brief, albeit a depth and beauty of the actual Chinese language, the symbology they used, and the depth and exquisite expression of the poems as written expressions of art.
As a hobby of mine is to understand the universal visual and symbolic aspects that all languages contain, this book is a gem. As a lover of poetry, this meets my hankering for something beyond the scope of modern poetry.
Reading the introduction and then diving into the poems themselves, I suddenly felt as if thousdans of years no longer existed between myself and the author. The story is the same as ours, the feelings just as complex, deep and frustrating as ours.
This book I feel is a bridge between cultures, centuries and people who speak completely different languages.
I feel if you can see that every language, culture and people, all had to create a way to communicate and it usually began with pictures, symbols, signs, lines, dots, and drawings. It becomes clear that all humans have felt the same at some point in the life.
The modern age is not so modern when you read the poems so beautifully translated in this book.
For Example: The Pheasants Song at the very beginning. "Sumps, we get to work; sundowns, we get our rest. Dig wells and drink, plow fields, to eat: what has some "emperor" to do with us?"
I don't know about you, but I can relate. We go to work, we do our work, we do our work so we can eat, and really what does a king/emperor/politician really have to do with us? There is no longer a gap between 2024 and 1122 now is there!
An amazing book, I am truly enjoying it.
July 12, 2018
I was happy to discover that this wasn’t a typical collection of poems, but offered the reader much more. Backgrounds of the poets are offered, as well as a concise overview of the period when the poem was written.
There is also a wonderful notes section that further helps the reader to fully understand what it is they have just read. For me, it helped to know what the poet was referring to, whether it be a superstition, pun, or in one case understanding what a ching-wei is. It’s a mythical bird, just so you know.
There is also a wonderful notes section that further helps the reader to fully understand what it is they have just read. For me, it helped to know what the poet was referring to, whether it be a superstition, pun, or in one case understanding what a ching-wei is. It’s a mythical bird, just so you know.
November 3, 2018
“Young, I loved to read good books:
word for word I memorized whole chapters.
Old, I love to read good books to pass the time,
to follow where my interest leads me.
Although it is true I forget half I read.”
Yuán Méi 袁枚 (1716–1797)
word for word I memorized whole chapters.
Old, I love to read good books to pass the time,
to follow where my interest leads me.
Although it is true I forget half I read.”
Yuán Méi 袁枚 (1716–1797)
May 6, 2021
A good overview collection, and the introduction and commentary are interesting to read as well. Overall, it’s not a style I particularly go for, but there are certainly a few gems in there.
August 8, 2022
A thoughtfully curated collection of poems, with corresponding history lessons prior to each section. I am eager to read more Chinese poetry!
November 28, 2016
La poesía china es gráfica, pero a la vez abstracta e interpretable, pintando paisajes y escenarios naturales, generalmente en ambientes de quietud y reflexión, donde mediante pocas palabras uno queda situado en otras tierras y épocas. Estos ambientes se complementan con los pensamientos de estos poetas (en su mayoría hombres), entregando efímeras ventanas de conocimiento y consejo en forma de metáfora.
Interesante la cantidad de referencias al vino y la ebriedad, a las aves, las estaciones del año, y la vida sencilla de los poetas y pescadores, pero también a los diferentes tipos de gobierno y su distanciamiento de dichas formas de vivir.
Mi poeta favorita: Li Ching-chao (1084-1151).
Interesante la cantidad de referencias al vino y la ebriedad, a las aves, las estaciones del año, y la vida sencilla de los poetas y pescadores, pero también a los diferentes tipos de gobierno y su distanciamiento de dichas formas de vivir.
Mi poeta favorita: Li Ching-chao (1084-1151).
June 3, 2012
Another excellent collection of Chinese poetry. Less voluminous than Sunflower Splendor, and thus less disorienting. A very good collection if you are just becoming familiar with the rich world of Chinese poetry.
April 27, 2013
a very good book of Chinese poetry, comprehensive with most of the main poets in Chinese history
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews