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Cold Mountain: The Legend of Han Shan and Shih Te, the Original Dharma Bums
A graphic novel portrait of the wild antics and legendary poetry of the "Laughing Pair"—Han Shan and Shih Te, two of China's greatest poets.
This is a smart, funny graphic novel exploring the life, legend, and lore of two of the greatest poets in Chinese history—Han Shan (known as "Cold Mountain") and Shih Te—who reportedly lived during the Tang dynasty (618-906 CE). They were critics of authority (both secular and religious) and champions of social justice who left their poetry on tree trunks and rocks. They were also reportedly monastics, drunks, cave dwellers, immortals, and many other wild and wondrous things. There is much delightful uncertainty about this "Laughing Pair"—including whether or not they actually existed. What is known is that the poetry attributed to them was greatly influential in both China and Japan, and to the Beat writers in the United States during the 1950s and '60s.
Acclaimed manga creator Sean Michael Wilson has brought these renegade poets to life, showing the places they went and the philosophical and meditative aspects of their lives, as well as revealing their humor and wackiness and their penetrating insights into the human condition.Their poetry is interwoven throughout—translations by J. P. Seaton, one of the most respected tranlsators of Chinese poetry in the United States.
This is a smart, funny graphic novel exploring the life, legend, and lore of two of the greatest poets in Chinese history—Han Shan (known as "Cold Mountain") and Shih Te—who reportedly lived during the Tang dynasty (618-906 CE). They were critics of authority (both secular and religious) and champions of social justice who left their poetry on tree trunks and rocks. They were also reportedly monastics, drunks, cave dwellers, immortals, and many other wild and wondrous things. There is much delightful uncertainty about this "Laughing Pair"—including whether or not they actually existed. What is known is that the poetry attributed to them was greatly influential in both China and Japan, and to the Beat writers in the United States during the 1950s and '60s.
Acclaimed manga creator Sean Michael Wilson has brought these renegade poets to life, showing the places they went and the philosophical and meditative aspects of their lives, as well as revealing their humor and wackiness and their penetrating insights into the human condition.Their poetry is interwoven throughout—translations by J. P. Seaton, one of the most respected tranlsators of Chinese poetry in the United States.
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2015
3 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Sean Michael Wilson
79 books85 followersSean Michael Wilson is a comic book writer from Scotland. He has had around 30 books published with a variety of US, UK and Japanese publishers, including: a comic book version of A Christmas Carol ('Best of 2008’, Sunday Times), AX:alternative manga ( 'Best ten books of 2010’, Publishers Weekly), Parecomic (with an introduction by Noam Chomsky, his first contribution to a book in graphic form). He is currently writing books for big Japanese publisher Kodansha, being the only British writer to do so. In fact, he is the only pro manga writer from Britain who lives in Japan. He is also the editor of the critically acclaimed collection 'AX:alternative manga' (Publishers Weekly's 'Best ten books of 2010' and nominated for a Harvey award).
Working with various Japanese artists he has written a unique line of Japanese history/martial arts/Samurai books, including The Book of Five Rings, Secrets of the Ninja, The 47 Ronin, and Cold Mountain (winner of China Comic and Animation Competition 2015 ‘Best Overseas Comic’ award). In 2016 his book 'The Faceless Ghost' was nominated for an Eisner Award. In 2017 he became the first British person to receive an International Manga Award from the Japanese Government. In 2019 his book 'The Many Not the Few' was launched by the Labour Party leader in an event in the Houses of Parliament. In 2020 he received the Scottish Samurai Award from an association promoting connections between Japan and Scotland.
He does comic books outside the normal superhero/fantasy brands, going into areas such as history, biography, drama, and social issues, often in collaboration with universities, charities and book publishers. He often gives lectures and talks about comics in schools and colleges, and writes articles for such places as The Japan Times, The London Economic and The Herald Scotland.
Working with various Japanese artists he has written a unique line of Japanese history/martial arts/Samurai books, including The Book of Five Rings, Secrets of the Ninja, The 47 Ronin, and Cold Mountain (winner of China Comic and Animation Competition 2015 ‘Best Overseas Comic’ award). In 2016 his book 'The Faceless Ghost' was nominated for an Eisner Award. In 2017 he became the first British person to receive an International Manga Award from the Japanese Government. In 2019 his book 'The Many Not the Few' was launched by the Labour Party leader in an event in the Houses of Parliament. In 2020 he received the Scottish Samurai Award from an association promoting connections between Japan and Scotland.
He does comic books outside the normal superhero/fantasy brands, going into areas such as history, biography, drama, and social issues, often in collaboration with universities, charities and book publishers. He often gives lectures and talks about comics in schools and colleges, and writes articles for such places as The Japan Times, The London Economic and The Herald Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 27, 2015
I was the ideal audience for this, given my twin passions for Buddhist books and graphic novels, but I was skeptical at first. Sure, Shambhala has put out a lot of wonderful books, many of which I own or covet, but could they do a decent graphic novel? Turns out they can. I enjoyed this. The art was nice and sometimes had a manga feel, which was a cool touch. I appreciated learning about the Cold Mountain poet, I liked most of the poetry, and I was happy to learn more about zen, which I'm not too familiar with yet. My only complaint is that this book was too short. Is it short because not much is known about the Cold Mountain poet? Or was the shortness part of the zen of it all? Either way, I could've read much more along these lines. But I guess wanting more is better than wanting less.
I received this book via a First Reads giveaway here on Goodreads.
I received this book via a First Reads giveaway here on Goodreads.
February 20, 2018
Hi all, I am the writer of this visual version, thank you all for your reviews.
We are proud of this book and think we did a good job based on very little information and historical uncertainty about the people and places. We tried to balance the serious with the silly here, to show that they were poetic fools in a way that is not normally associated with the image of poetry and philosophy. But, as it goes this is one of our lowest selling books, for some odd reason. And it really is hard to see why, as its just as good as other that sell 4 times as well.
“The poetry of the manga here expresses the poetry of this pair of ‘mad men’ of Cold Mountain. Read the wise verses of Han Shan and Shih Te and, like the sage, your face will also break into a great big smile.”
- Paul Gravett, author of Comics Art and editor of 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die
"I have long been a huge fan of the poetry of Han Shan and this beautifully illustrated graphic novel does the poems and the mythology justice. Rather than try to fill in the gaps of what we don't know about these two, the book relies heavily on what we do, mostly gleaned from the poems, many of which are included. A good introduction for those unfamiliar, a nice take on the poems for those already knowledgeable. "
- James, Goodreads
“Jerome Seaton is the finest living translator and explicator of Chinese poetry; beyond a genius for interpretation and impeccable scholarship. Seaton has that quality that can magically transcend intuition and learning: he is a poet.”
—Carolyn Kizer, author of Cool, Calm, and Collected: Poems 1960–2000
Please check out some of our other adaptions of Far Eastern classics and history - we have done 13 now! Such as the book about to come out in April 2018, ’The Satsuma Rebellion’
You can see more pages from the book on my web site:
https://seanmichaelwilson.weebly.com/...
Thanks, Sean
We are proud of this book and think we did a good job based on very little information and historical uncertainty about the people and places. We tried to balance the serious with the silly here, to show that they were poetic fools in a way that is not normally associated with the image of poetry and philosophy. But, as it goes this is one of our lowest selling books, for some odd reason. And it really is hard to see why, as its just as good as other that sell 4 times as well.
“The poetry of the manga here expresses the poetry of this pair of ‘mad men’ of Cold Mountain. Read the wise verses of Han Shan and Shih Te and, like the sage, your face will also break into a great big smile.”
- Paul Gravett, author of Comics Art and editor of 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die
"I have long been a huge fan of the poetry of Han Shan and this beautifully illustrated graphic novel does the poems and the mythology justice. Rather than try to fill in the gaps of what we don't know about these two, the book relies heavily on what we do, mostly gleaned from the poems, many of which are included. A good introduction for those unfamiliar, a nice take on the poems for those already knowledgeable. "
- James, Goodreads
“Jerome Seaton is the finest living translator and explicator of Chinese poetry; beyond a genius for interpretation and impeccable scholarship. Seaton has that quality that can magically transcend intuition and learning: he is a poet.”
—Carolyn Kizer, author of Cool, Calm, and Collected: Poems 1960–2000
Please check out some of our other adaptions of Far Eastern classics and history - we have done 13 now! Such as the book about to come out in April 2018, ’The Satsuma Rebellion’
You can see more pages from the book on my web site:
https://seanmichaelwilson.weebly.com/...
Thanks, Sean
January 12, 2015
I have long been a huge fan of the poetry of Han Shan and this beautifully illustrated graphic novel does the poems and the mythology justice. Rather than try to fill in the gaps of what we don't know about these two, the book relies heavily on what we do, mostly gleaned from the poems, many of which are included. A good introduction for those unfamiliar, a nice take on the poems for those already knowledgeable.
[I received an advanced e-galley of this graphic novel through Netgalley. The book will be published April 14, 2015.]
[I received an advanced e-galley of this graphic novel through Netgalley. The book will be published April 14, 2015.]
January 15, 2016
Oh how I would love to be a meandering poet, except I'm allergic to the outdoors, can't write poetry to save my life, and I'm pretty sure people would punch me out if I even tried to pull this shit. Strong recommendation if you fancy yourself a wanderer. Don't be afraid if you don't get it; that just means you're in on the joke.
May 17, 2016
Some moments made me laugh out loud. A lovely mix of character study and poetry.
September 29, 2017
A good mix of philosophy, poetry, silly characters and humour!
December 30, 2019
I am not sure I read this as I should have. Mine was a glancing look that often strayed, even when I tried to focus on these poems. Yet, by Hanshan’s words from this graphic novel, he might look favourably upon such a read instead of “the person proclaims to have found the deepest wisdom”.
I was, to be fair, uncertain what sort of a book I had got myself here. I had not heard of Hanshan or his companion Shide previously; ‘Cold Mountain’ was the name of a mountain (somewhere). Yet, the two poets come to life on these pages as two laughing sages. These sages make for a very Chinese ideal and perhaps one for which the European mind is unprepared. A quick look into the legend of Hanshan confirms such a view of the two poets. This is the first reason which makes me recommend the pair (and this book).
The second is that the poems themselves are good. As I mentioned above, I did not take the time to really look and understand, but a first understanding made some of them stand out. Also, at the very least the selection of poems was very different to what a quick Wikipedia search provides.
However, my main problem is not how the legend gets brought across — I think for the poets themselves, the authors could have included a few more poems. There were a few really good scenes of the mountain the companions lived at, but there really could have been more. With the author’s comment in Goodreads noting that they don’t understand the low appreciation this volume gets, I think including more poems and more thorough a (pictorial) description of who Hanshan was would have immensely improved this book and its value.
Even so, I recommend it — though I want to return to it in my own time.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
I was, to be fair, uncertain what sort of a book I had got myself here. I had not heard of Hanshan or his companion Shide previously; ‘Cold Mountain’ was the name of a mountain (somewhere). Yet, the two poets come to life on these pages as two laughing sages. These sages make for a very Chinese ideal and perhaps one for which the European mind is unprepared. A quick look into the legend of Hanshan confirms such a view of the two poets. This is the first reason which makes me recommend the pair (and this book).
The second is that the poems themselves are good. As I mentioned above, I did not take the time to really look and understand, but a first understanding made some of them stand out. Also, at the very least the selection of poems was very different to what a quick Wikipedia search provides.
However, my main problem is not how the legend gets brought across — I think for the poets themselves, the authors could have included a few more poems. There were a few really good scenes of the mountain the companions lived at, but there really could have been more. With the author’s comment in Goodreads noting that they don’t understand the low appreciation this volume gets, I think including more poems and more thorough a (pictorial) description of who Hanshan was would have immensely improved this book and its value.
Even so, I recommend it — though I want to return to it in my own time.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
December 15, 2018
I encountered the story of Han Shan while reading Robert Moor's On Trails and wanted to learn more. This is a very quick introduction to his work and his life, if he in fact existed. This point is brought up on the book's description on its back cover. Han Shan and Shih Te may not have existed, but their works, written on rocks, cave walls, pieces of wood, did.
This can serve as a launching pad for those interested in learning more about these T'ang Dynasty era poets who eschewed traditional means of then "modern" life, and chose a life of aestheticism and living off the land. Their poems and life embody the zen and natural spirit that Beauty and life is what we decide it is, and a meaningful life can be made sleeping in a forest and trying to befriend a snail, or at least make it not afraid of us.
This can serve as a launching pad for those interested in learning more about these T'ang Dynasty era poets who eschewed traditional means of then "modern" life, and chose a life of aestheticism and living off the land. Their poems and life embody the zen and natural spirit that Beauty and life is what we decide it is, and a meaningful life can be made sleeping in a forest and trying to befriend a snail, or at least make it not afraid of us.
August 20, 2019
I had never read or heard of cold mountain/Han Shan before this book. This was a quick, fun and very visual read. His lifestyle reminds me of a brother I recently lost who was a wanderer and was considered a street kid. I love how free Han Shan was in this book and the poetry on the rocks were a wonderful treat. They (both poets) were happy with minimal and that's the lesson I took away from this book. And they always took time out to write poems to encourage others who saw them. Awesome. Simple..I dig it.
March 31, 2023
A romantic notion poorly conceived. There is something in it, something, something, somewhere, somehow. But I can't quite put my finger on it.
Easy to digest. Candy for the eyes. A noble classic, and salutary parable, but in the end, empty as shunyata.
Easy to digest. Candy for the eyes. A noble classic, and salutary parable, but in the end, empty as shunyata.
March 22, 2018
A nice read with beautiful poetry but not too insightful
November 16, 2022
A fun exploration of moments in Han Shan's life alongside clear and crisp translations.
March 1, 2017
This brief manga-inspired graphic memoir acts as an introduction to the lives, poems, and wisdom of the Tang Dynasty monastics Han Shan and Shih Te. Considered by many to be quite eccentric, they lived life as they wished: living in caves, laughing in the faces of well-respected and influential men, and writing their poems on natural surfaces. The manga at the very least portrays them as individuals who walk the thin line between madness and genius. Their life is broken up into episodes, each which features one poem as the chapter cover, and sometimes a few others within the narrative. These stories are short, and depending on your point of view, relate either profound wisdom, or utter nonsense. The creators recognize that fact and fiction have melded together, these are legendary figures afterall, but decided to keep both (the subtitle says "The Legend of...", not the history of). For those with little knowledge of Taoism or Buddhism, deeper understanding may prove elusive, but the graphic novel is nevertheless accessible. Poetry enthusiasts will find much to analyze and enjoy in these translations. Whether you find meaning in this story or not, it is made interesting by these unusual figures who hover between myth and reality.
June 30, 2015
This was interesting, but somehow unsatisfying. I had actually never heard of Han Shan and Shih Te before, though the phrase "Dharma Bums" was vaguely familiar, something to do with Jack Kerouac or something. Actually the pair were a couple of zen poets, though probably not all of the poems attributed to them were actually written by them. Select poems are interspersed with tales of their exploits. Some of this feels more like legend than life, but then, zen is its own thing after all. This book just was not terribly interesting for me. Some of that may have to do with my low tolerance for poetry, zen or otherwise. Some of it may stem from my unfamiliarity with the Original Dharma Bums themselves, though if the book is intended only for those already familiar with the duo, then I think the lesser of it. I'm not unfamiliar with zen in general, but there are better books on that subject than this one: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps, anything by Brad Warner, for instance. This is not a bad book, but, alas, it's not a particularly good one either. It just is, which is quite zen when you think about it.
April 19, 2015
I won an advance copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first exposure to the poetry of Han Shan and Shih Te, leading Chinese poets of the Tang dynasty. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of how it was presented to make it more appealing to today's youth, but overall, it was just "okay" for me.
This was my first exposure to the poetry of Han Shan and Shih Te, leading Chinese poets of the Tang dynasty. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of how it was presented to make it more appealing to today's youth, but overall, it was just "okay" for me.
November 21, 2021
I enjoyed several of these poems. Most of the time, I wished I could have read them without the illustrations. However there were a few poems that were rendered visually in ways that I very much appreciated. Shih Te XVI was one. The image of the man laying in the boat, floating added a heavy sense of human isolation and yet peaceful surrender.
Used: 20 (Renaissance Books)
Used: 20 (Renaissance Books)
August 3, 2015
Found it very hard to follow. Maybe if I was more familiar with the legend, it would have made more sense. Will have to look into this further.
October 31, 2015
"In the heart that is not twisted, the Tao's a road that runs straight through."
December 10, 2015
Well drawn, with interesting interpretations of the legend and decent translations of many of the poems. I would recommend this comic as a meditative read.
March 1, 2016
Corny, yet solid, comic interpretations of Han Shan's "Cold Mountain" zen poems. I'm not sure what the overall purpose of this graphic novel was, but maybe that's because it's about zen poetry?
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews