Tao Chien (1) (365–427)

Short (91 pp.), elegant book from Copper Canyon Press, containing poems by classical Chinese poet T'ao Ch'ien, translated by David Hinton. T'ao Ch'ien lived in medieval China, and after a brief career in government service retired to his family farm in the boondocks. All the poems reflect on his experience of living in relative poverty in the country. He much preferred it to life as an official, with the help of quite a lot of wine. The poems are reflective, lyrical, highly attuned to the beauty of nature, and somewhat wistful. The book ends with several powerful funerary poems, seemingly prepared in anticipation of his own funeral. Tao's style is simple, concrete, and conversational. He is an engaging companion. The translations are likewise simple and direct. Hinton also provides helpful endnotes. T'ao Ch'ien is regarded as the first poet of the Chinese Rivers and Mountains School, and was an immense influence on subsequent Chinese poetry. I recommend this book unreservedly.… (mais)