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The Nine Songs: A Study of Shamanism in Ancient China
First published in 1955 by George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. in the UK the book was re-published in the United States by City Lights Books in 1973.
Arthur Waley translates each poem with a commentary on the various deities whom the shamans served, and in the introduction he gives a general account of shamanism in early China.
Arthur Waley translates each poem with a commentary on the various deities whom the shamans served, and in the introduction he gives a general account of shamanism in early China.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
About the author
Arthur Waley
245 books41 followersArthur David Waley was an esteemed English orientalist and sinologist, renowned for his translations of Chinese and Japanese poetry. He received numerous honours, including the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1952, the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1953, and was invested as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 1956.
Waley was largely self-taught, and his translations brought Chinese and Japanese classical literature to a broad Western audience. He translated works such as A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1918), The Tale of Genji (1925–26), and Monkey (1942), making significant contributions to the understanding of East Asian literary traditions in the West. Despite his extensive knowledge, Waley never visited China or Japan, nor did he speak Mandarin or Japanese, focusing solely on written texts.
Born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, he attended Rugby School and briefly studied Classics at Cambridge University before leaving due to vision problems. In 1913, he became Assistant Keeper of Oriental Prints and Manuscripts at the British Museum, where he taught himself Classical Chinese and Japanese. Waley was also active during WWII, working for the Ministry of Information and running the Japanese Censorship Section.
He maintained a close personal relationship with dancer and orientalist Beryl de Zoete, though they never married. Waley passed away in 1966, shortly after marrying poet Alison Grant Robinson. His work left an indelible mark on the field of translation and introduced the high literary cultures of China and Japan to the English-speaking world. His translations continue to be highly regarded and widely published, influencing generations of readers and scholars.
Waley was largely self-taught, and his translations brought Chinese and Japanese classical literature to a broad Western audience. He translated works such as A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1918), The Tale of Genji (1925–26), and Monkey (1942), making significant contributions to the understanding of East Asian literary traditions in the West. Despite his extensive knowledge, Waley never visited China or Japan, nor did he speak Mandarin or Japanese, focusing solely on written texts.
Born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, he attended Rugby School and briefly studied Classics at Cambridge University before leaving due to vision problems. In 1913, he became Assistant Keeper of Oriental Prints and Manuscripts at the British Museum, where he taught himself Classical Chinese and Japanese. Waley was also active during WWII, working for the Ministry of Information and running the Japanese Censorship Section.
He maintained a close personal relationship with dancer and orientalist Beryl de Zoete, though they never married. Waley passed away in 1966, shortly after marrying poet Alison Grant Robinson. His work left an indelible mark on the field of translation and introduced the high literary cultures of China and Japan to the English-speaking world. His translations continue to be highly regarded and widely published, influencing generations of readers and scholars.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 9, 2019
This is a fantastic little book!
It's a quick read, reading very slowly I got through it in about one hour, and SO interesting.
The "Nine Songs" are shamanistic songs from the Chinese state of Chu collected during the late bronze age. The songs themselves are about shamans' interactions with various spirits from Chinese mythology and the translator, Arthur Waley, gives a good introduction about the social and mythical setting of this period in Chinese history as well as short explanations about the meaning, or possible meaning, of each song.
The songs are very descriptive and provide a great deal of insight into this period of Chinese history as well as the mindset of the people who engaged in shamanism.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Chinese History, general mythology, or anyone interested in the fantasy genre and wants to explore the mythical landscapes of other cultures. Great stuff!
5/5 Stars
It's a quick read, reading very slowly I got through it in about one hour, and SO interesting.
The "Nine Songs" are shamanistic songs from the Chinese state of Chu collected during the late bronze age. The songs themselves are about shamans' interactions with various spirits from Chinese mythology and the translator, Arthur Waley, gives a good introduction about the social and mythical setting of this period in Chinese history as well as short explanations about the meaning, or possible meaning, of each song.
The songs are very descriptive and provide a great deal of insight into this period of Chinese history as well as the mindset of the people who engaged in shamanism.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Chinese History, general mythology, or anyone interested in the fantasy genre and wants to explore the mythical landscapes of other cultures. Great stuff!
5/5 Stars
October 18, 2018
These poems of ancient Chinese shamanism are beautiful. They are not only hymns, reminiscent in some ways of the so-called Homeric hymns, but love-poems, for the god is often depicted as a wandering lover whose presence is delight and whose absence is heartbreak. I thought Waley's notes and commentary pretty helpful, though I am unable to judge how they compare with contemporary scholarship.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews