The Selected Poems of Po Chü-i

by Bai Juyi, David Hinton (Translator)

Generally acclaimed as one of China's greatest poets, Po Chü?-i (772-846 C.E.) practiced a poetry of everyday human concerns and clear plain-spoken language. In spite of his preeminent stature, this is the first edition of Po Chü?-i's poetry to appear in the West. It encompasses the full range of his work, from the early poems of social protest to the later recluse poems, whose spiritual depths reflect both his life-long devotion to Taoist and Ch'an (Zen) Buddhist practice. David Hinton's translations of ancient Chinese poetry have earned wide acclaim for creating compelling English texts that have altered our conception of Chinese poetry. Among his books published by New Directions are The Selected Poems of Tu Fu, and The Selected Poems of Li Po. His work has been supported by fellowships from The National Endowment for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Genres: Poetry, China, Chinese Literature, Asia, Buddhism, Asian Literature, Ancient History

200 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Bai Juyi (Chinese: 白居易; 772–846), or Bo Juyi (Wade–Giles: Po Chü-i) was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. Many of his poems concern his career or observations made as a government official, including as governor of three different provinces. Bai Juyi was also renowned in Japan. Burton Watson says of Bai Juyi: "he worked to develop a style that was simple and easy to understand, and posterity has requited his efforts by making him one of the most well-loved and widely read of all Chinese poets, both in his native land and in the other countries of the East that participate in the appreciation of Chinese culture. He is also, thanks to the translations and biographical studies by Arthur Waley, one of the most accessible to English readers".

Reviews

[J.M. Hushour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful, eye-opening collection of poems by a poet you've never heard of and translated by David Hinton. Hinton has an eye/ear for magnificent poetries out of China's past and this one is no exception. A not insignificant government functionary during the Tang, Po, following a familiar trend, disdained service and became somewhat of a recluse--drinking, writing poetry, and digging into Ch'an as some serious shit.
These are gentle and quiet poems, with a nice wit, sometimes sad.

[Yorgos]

I really enjoyed a lot of these! Intro & notes seemed good to me but honestly I can't comment intelligently about a major poet in a literary tradition I am (a) wholly ignorant of and (b) can only access through translations that (by the nature of the poetry) significantly transform the original.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Po Chu-I, or Bai Juyi, about 10 years ago. I've been fascinated by him ever since. A civil servant during the Tang Dynasty, he wrote beautiful poems about nature and stillness. Mixed in with these are some of the most biting social critique poems I have ever read. He was so far ahead of his time. 1200+ years later, I don't know of anyone so powerful.

[Brendan Coster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this primarily has part of Japanese literature focus I have going this moment. While the 'lyrical' nature that might have been in the original is completely lost, I think Hinton did an excellent job in translating the poems as direct, linguistically simple (not a negative), and to the point. From what I understand from some other translations and essays, Hinton doesn't focus on the Poems, so much as he focuses on representing Po Chu-I himself.

Of all the poets out of China prior to ~900 or so Po Chu-i was the most influential. I had gone into this kind of thinking it was the blind vicissitudes of fate that brought him over the more popular (in China at least) Tu Fu and Li Po. David Hinton indicated it was due to simplicity of style, which I believe. But I think, from my own reading, it's the aesthetic of Po Chu-I that struck to the heart of Heian period Japan, made him insanely popular for 250 years, and then his poems never left.

If Heian period politics, and thus lit like the 'Tale of Genji,' are to be taken at face value - the impetus for the people of the era was not ethics, method of government, how much tax, use of funds, etc, nothing suggests that anyone had a different opinion. All power struggle was based around proximity to the emperor, who was an empty figurehead at best. And I don't mean it as a negative, but they were empty power struggles. That the 'Tale of Genji' did lack anything like a plot, or ever had a point is self evident and it fit the times. That Shonagon's diary was just, 'for herself', to write down tales, but had no point, no morals, no climax.

Po Chu-I writes 2,800 poems, or so, about nothing (except the percentage that get handed down in volumes like this which represent the thoughtful, the ones about his family, the political ones, and the ones on old age) - the vast majority fit in perfectly with the Heian period mindset - being this outside, foreign, collection could be handed down from one generation to the next without being changed and unite literature, poems, and ideas - and ultimately helped promulgate the idea that there were people outside Kyoto who thought the same way.

"All Day long abiding in the great Tao:
who can understand such heartfelt

depths, depths so ample and composed
they don't care if anyone ever hears."
Pg180, Po Chu-I, Hinton

I think Po Chu-I would have found the slow, waning, of Heian Kyoto, and the period in general, as proper and a pure poem unto itself.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am quickly becoming floored by how far ahead of western Europe China's poetry was.

[Mejix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book randomly for $1.50 on the last day of a book fair. Didn't know the poet but I am somewhat aware of David Hinton's reputation as translator. What a nice surprise.

Po Chu-I is always walking around, drinking wine, or writing to his friend. The subjects are somewhat repetitive and I suspect that I won't remember any one in particular distinctly. But there are some really great poems here, and many many breathtaking verses.

Early poems, as usual, are not that great but am glad I stuck with it.

[Steven Severance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Above average for David Hinton Translations.
The book is divided chronologically into 4 sections. I enjoyed the first and last sections. The middle is pretty much Meh.

Like Du Fu, in old age there are way too many lines written about hair thinning and turning white.
However, this poet gets slightly halucinagenic in old age . Some of theses old age poems get strange and interesting.

My edition was second printing by New Directions. The paper is thick and luxurious. IT is sad that one cant get books this nicely printed anymore.

[Edward Rathke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't love this collection. Maybe it's just hard to read him while also reading Tu Fu and Li Bo, but this just never clicked for me in the right way.

I'll probably try again in a few years. See how i feel about it then.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book while on a river cruise in China, and read from cover to cover. Loved it. It's had a profound impact on the way I read and write poetry.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing that makes this book so good is the translation by David Hinton.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book (except for the translator's use of the not very poetic term 'isolate' as an adjective).

[Jughead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite book of Chinese Tang poetry. Especially, the poems from late in his life.

[Sydney]

Beautiful old poems. Smiled often that I could have things in common with someone who lived hundreds of years ago. Nice before-bed reading!