Description
Book SynopsisThe poems of two of China’s most influential classical poets: Tu Fu, called “China’s Shakespeare” (BBC), and Li Po, the subject of Ha Jin’s The Banished Immortal and “China’s most beloved poet” (The New Yorker) A Penguin ClassicLi Po (AD 701–62) and Tu Fu (AD 712–70) were devoted friends who are traditionally considered to be among China's greatest poets. Li Po, a legendary carouser, was an itinerant poet whose writing, often dream poems or spirit-journeys, soars to sublime heights in its descriptions of natural scenes and powerful emotions. His sheer escapism and joy is balanced by Tu Fu, who expresses the Confucian virtues of humanity and humility in more autobiographical works that are imbued with great compassion and earthy reality, and shot through with humour. Together these two poets of the T'ang dynasty complement each other so well that they often came to be spoken of
Table of ContentsLi Po and Tu FuAcknowledgments
Pronounciation of Chinese Words and Names
Note on the Chinese Calligraphy
Introduction1. "Li-Tu"
2. The Background to their Times
3. Li Po
4. Tu Fu
5. The Background to T'ang Poetry: The Beginnings: The 'Book of Odes', the Language and Script
6. The Background to T'ang Poetry:
The Ch'u Tz'u7. The Background to T'ang Poetry: The Ballads and the Principles of Chinese Syllabic Metre
8. A Demonstration by Ballad
9. The Approach to Translation in this Book
10. The Tones and the 'Chinese Sonnet'
11. Reading the Poems in English
Li Po
Tu Fu
List of Titles
Index of First Lines
