Intro Post: snowynight (Part redux)

[snowynight]

Hi! I'm snowynight and I'll be your host for this week. Since the last time I was a host I've been an more avid reader of poetry and start to try my hand in writing poetry. It's a lot of fun. For more about me, please see my first introduction post here at the comm or visit my personal journal

This week I'll talk about Tang Dynasty poets in China (618-907). Tang Dynasty was an important period for the history of Chinese poetry, because during this period the quantity, quality and variety of poetry had climbed to a new high, which was very influential to later time. I would like to introduce some popular and overlooked poets in Tang Dynasty China.

Li Bai 李白 (701-762) was a profound and popular poet in China. He was nicknamed " Banished Immortal" because his poems were famous for his imagination, his willingness to break the formal poetic rules and his seemingly easiness to bound all these into great poetry. However, his life was tragic. He was unable to use his talent to serve the country as he wished and later died in exile. The conflict of Taoist belief of transcending the worldly affair and the Confucius ideal of building a name by serving the country built up the tension in his life. There's a more comprehensive account of his life on wikipedia.

I would like to share one of his popular poems Drinking Alone Under the Moon here, which I think gives a glimpse of why he was nicknamed "Banished Immortal." It 's a five-word poem in old poetry style.

李白 - 月下獨酌 中文原文﹕ 花間一壺酒， 獨酌無相親； 舉杯邀明月， 對影成三人。 月既不解飲， 影徒隨我身； 暫伴月將影， 行樂須及春。 我歌月徘徊， 我舞影零亂； 醒時同交歡， 醉后各分散。 永結無情游， 相期邈雲漢。

LI Bai - Drinking Alone Under the Moon translated by Betty Tseng In amongst flowers with a bottle of wine I drink alone for there is no one close by. I raise my chalice to invite the shining moon, The moon casts me a shadow and we have a triad. The moon never learns to drink, My shadow absent-mindedly follows me. Nevertheless I have them around me, Moments should be enjoyed as they be. I sing and the moon lingers, I dance and my shadow whirled under. In my sober moments we rejoiced together, It is a company no longer once I am drunk. Such fellowship shall last despite our parted ways, When we shall come together again is up to the remote heavens above.

Question: How do you enjoy the poem? Does the description of the poet remind you of anything? Are there any aspects of Tang Dynasty poetry and poets you're interested in?

Comments

[lnhammer]

Yay Tang poetry!

Although Du Fu remains my favorite, lately I've been interested in some of the later Tang poets, and how they took the consolidated achievements of the 8th century and started exploring the different ways the new tradition could elaborated.

---L.

[snowynight]

Thank you! I like the tone of the poem too. I definitely plan to share about Du Fu and later Tang poets.

[alee_grrl]

The poem is lovely. There is a hint of hope and enjoyment alongside the melancholy tone.

In a way the description of the poet reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe a bit. He was another poet who wanted to be recognized for his work and yet struggled to balance the conflicts in his life and mind.

I'm not really familiar with Chinese poetry (beyond what you have shared with us), and look forward to learning more about Tang Dynasty poetry.

[snowynight]

Thank you! I like the tone of the poem too and I hope you enjoy my later posts.