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The Heart of Chinese Poetry: Fifty-Seven of the Best Traditional Chinese Poems in a Dual-Language Edition
Greg Whincup offers a varied and unique approach to Chinese translation in The Heart of Chinese Poetry . Special features of this edition include direct word-for-word translations showing the range of meaning in each Chinese character, the Chinese pronunciations, as well as biographical and historical commentary following each poem.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 3, 2008
This was my first introduction to Chinese poetry when I began learning Chinese. After earning a master's degree in Chinese literature where I specialized in medieval Chinese poetry, it is still my favorite recommendation.
Gregory Wincup touches on the historical, political, and aesthetic issues of each poem. For each poem, a first page presents the reader with a full translation in English. A second and third page provide a vertical character word-by-word translation, alongside of which is given an explanation of historical background, the art of writing Chinese poetry, and the significance of the poem in the history of Chinese literature.
Chapters are broken down into themes such as military, religion, and women's writing. Because Wincup provides both the word-for-word translation and the full translation, the reader is able to see how the characters relate -- particularly rhyme schemes and the visual aspects of the characters. While a sinologist might not always approve of the final translation of a poem, no educator would deny how well the information is provided for a first-time reader of Chinese and Chinese poetry.
By the way, the romanizations of the characters are Yale, not Wide/Giles or pinyin. This might be confusing to some, but it is a good choice for first-time users, even if they move on to learn pinyin while learning Chinese.
Gregory Wincup touches on the historical, political, and aesthetic issues of each poem. For each poem, a first page presents the reader with a full translation in English. A second and third page provide a vertical character word-by-word translation, alongside of which is given an explanation of historical background, the art of writing Chinese poetry, and the significance of the poem in the history of Chinese literature.
Chapters are broken down into themes such as military, religion, and women's writing. Because Wincup provides both the word-for-word translation and the full translation, the reader is able to see how the characters relate -- particularly rhyme schemes and the visual aspects of the characters. While a sinologist might not always approve of the final translation of a poem, no educator would deny how well the information is provided for a first-time reader of Chinese and Chinese poetry.
By the way, the romanizations of the characters are Yale, not Wide/Giles or pinyin. This might be confusing to some, but it is a good choice for first-time users, even if they move on to learn pinyin while learning Chinese.
July 22, 2025
If you are at all interested in classical Chinese poetry then read this book. It is, I believe, the best introduction there is. It is a wonderful gateway to a selection of beautiful Chinese poems
Most Western translations of Chinese poetry, however good they are, provide you with a watered-down image of what a Chinese poem actually does. A bit like giving you a Midi version of a great quartet. This wonderful book shows you the insides of Chinese poems.
My impression, the first time I managed to read an original Tang poem, was that of holding a seed made up of not much more than twenty syllables in my hand and as I looked at it also seeing the tree it would make in time. It is practically impossible to maintain that condensed seed and the extensive picture of the tree if you embark upon a translation. It is a bit like taking all the pieces out of an old watch and realising that it won’t work anymore.
Greg Whincup follows a method in which he provides you with three vesions of each poem. He writes out - 1)the sounds of the poem 2) a syllable by syllable translation, which allows you to grasp the poem without any watering down and 3) a traditional English translatioin which clarifies the meaning.
Additionally, he provides an account of the poem and of the poet. Considering that he provides a wonderful selection as well, this book is actually a masterclass in classical Chinese poetry.
(If you want to read a longer piece I’ve written on this subject go to https://sidewaysstation.com/2010/06/2... )
Most Western translations of Chinese poetry, however good they are, provide you with a watered-down image of what a Chinese poem actually does. A bit like giving you a Midi version of a great quartet. This wonderful book shows you the insides of Chinese poems.
My impression, the first time I managed to read an original Tang poem, was that of holding a seed made up of not much more than twenty syllables in my hand and as I looked at it also seeing the tree it would make in time. It is practically impossible to maintain that condensed seed and the extensive picture of the tree if you embark upon a translation. It is a bit like taking all the pieces out of an old watch and realising that it won’t work anymore.
Greg Whincup follows a method in which he provides you with three vesions of each poem. He writes out - 1)the sounds of the poem 2) a syllable by syllable translation, which allows you to grasp the poem without any watering down and 3) a traditional English translatioin which clarifies the meaning.
Additionally, he provides an account of the poem and of the poet. Considering that he provides a wonderful selection as well, this book is actually a masterclass in classical Chinese poetry.
(If you want to read a longer piece I’ve written on this subject go to https://sidewaysstation.com/2010/06/2... )
March 10, 2025
Unbelievably engaging poetry and translator
October 24, 2021
This is a brilliant collection – I love the poetry selected as well as the detailed explanations relative to the original Chinese, which is printed and translated character by character on the page facing the English translations. The pinyin is also printed so Westerners like me who would like to practice or learn their Chinese can do so via great poems. I extract a few of these here, including one of my all-time favorites to start:
Seeing Off a Friend (Li Bai)
---------------------
Green mountains
Lie across the northern outskirts
Of the city.
White water
Winds around the eastern
City wall.
Once we make our parting
Here in this place,
Like a solitary tumbleweed
You will go
Ten thousand miles.
Floating clouds
Are the thoughts of the wanderer.
Setting sun
Is the mood of his old friend.
With a wave of the hand
Now you go from here.
Your horse gives a whinny
As it departs.
Ballad of the Northwest Frontier (Chen Tau)
-----------------------------------
Sworn
To sweep away the barbarians
And heedless of their own lives,
Five thousand soldiers
In marten-trimmed brocade
Perished in the alien dust.
How sad it is
That bones
By the River of Shifting Sands
Still are men
In spring bedchamber
Dreams.
Snowy River (Lyou Dzung-Ywan)
--------------------------
A thousand mountains
Where birds have ceased to fly.
Ten thousand pathways
Where tracks of men are gone.
A solitary boat,
An old man in reed cloak, bamboo hat –
Fishing alone
On the cold river in the snow.
Written after Drinking Wine (Tau Chyen)
--------------------------------
I built my shack
Amid the haunts of men,
And yet there is no noise
Of horse or carriage.
You ask
“How can this be?” –
Any place becomes secluded
When the mind is far away.
I pluck chrysanthemums
By the eastern fence.
In the distance
I see the mountains to the south.
The light of the mountains
Is lovely at sunset,
Flocks of birds
Fly back together for the night.
In this
There is an intimation of the Truth.
I want to express it,
But have forgotten all words.
Spring Prospect (Du Fu)
-------------------
The nation
Has been destroyed,
Mountains and rivers remain.
In the city
It is spring,
Grass and trees grow deep.
Moved by the time,
Flowers blooming
Make me weep.
Resentful of separation,
Singing birds
Shock my heart.
The beacon-fires of war
Have been lit for three months now.
Ten thousand gold-pieces
I would give
For a letter from home.
My white head
I have scratched
Till it is so sparse
That soon
The hatpin
Will not hold.
At Yellow Crane Tower, Seeing Off Meng Hau-ran on His Way to Yang-Jou (Li Bai)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My old friend
Bids farewell to me
In the west at Yellow Crane Tower.
Amid April’s mist and flowers
He goes down to Yang-Jou.
The distant image
Of his lonely sail
Disappears in blue emptiness,
And all I see
Is the Long River
Flowing to the edge of sky.
Seeing Off a Friend (Li Bai)
---------------------
Green mountains
Lie across the northern outskirts
Of the city.
White water
Winds around the eastern
City wall.
Once we make our parting
Here in this place,
Like a solitary tumbleweed
You will go
Ten thousand miles.
Floating clouds
Are the thoughts of the wanderer.
Setting sun
Is the mood of his old friend.
With a wave of the hand
Now you go from here.
Your horse gives a whinny
As it departs.
Ballad of the Northwest Frontier (Chen Tau)
-----------------------------------
Sworn
To sweep away the barbarians
And heedless of their own lives,
Five thousand soldiers
In marten-trimmed brocade
Perished in the alien dust.
How sad it is
That bones
By the River of Shifting Sands
Still are men
In spring bedchamber
Dreams.
Snowy River (Lyou Dzung-Ywan)
--------------------------
A thousand mountains
Where birds have ceased to fly.
Ten thousand pathways
Where tracks of men are gone.
A solitary boat,
An old man in reed cloak, bamboo hat –
Fishing alone
On the cold river in the snow.
Written after Drinking Wine (Tau Chyen)
--------------------------------
I built my shack
Amid the haunts of men,
And yet there is no noise
Of horse or carriage.
You ask
“How can this be?” –
Any place becomes secluded
When the mind is far away.
I pluck chrysanthemums
By the eastern fence.
In the distance
I see the mountains to the south.
The light of the mountains
Is lovely at sunset,
Flocks of birds
Fly back together for the night.
In this
There is an intimation of the Truth.
I want to express it,
But have forgotten all words.
Spring Prospect (Du Fu)
-------------------
The nation
Has been destroyed,
Mountains and rivers remain.
In the city
It is spring,
Grass and trees grow deep.
Moved by the time,
Flowers blooming
Make me weep.
Resentful of separation,
Singing birds
Shock my heart.
The beacon-fires of war
Have been lit for three months now.
Ten thousand gold-pieces
I would give
For a letter from home.
My white head
I have scratched
Till it is so sparse
That soon
The hatpin
Will not hold.
At Yellow Crane Tower, Seeing Off Meng Hau-ran on His Way to Yang-Jou (Li Bai)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My old friend
Bids farewell to me
In the west at Yellow Crane Tower.
Amid April’s mist and flowers
He goes down to Yang-Jou.
The distant image
Of his lonely sail
Disappears in blue emptiness,
And all I see
Is the Long River
Flowing to the edge of sky.
October 4, 2019
This marvelous book presents fifty-seven Chinese poems, dating from as far back as 500 B.C., up to about 1200 A.D. The poems are short but resonant, capturing something universal whether speaking of war, or of seeing a friend leave, or a snowy river. Each is first presented in English, followed by the original Chinese. The poetry is accompanied by exemplary notes that range from Chinese history and culture, to information about the poets, to the meanings of individual Chinese characters. I have never read a book that offers such a clear glimpse into the original meaning of non-English poetry. Excellent.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
April 25, 2024
The structure is perfect for me: short poems, quadrilingual (Chinese words in Chinese alphabet, Chinese words in our alphabet, literal translation, and poetic translation [the final two may sound redundant but they're great]), with interesting historical and aesthetic commentary, and thoughtful organization. The only problem is I have no prior experience to qualify the author, so I'm just trusting him. I've never known much about Chinese language, Chinese poetry, or even China; hopefully now I no longer know nothing.
I picked up this book at an old library book sale, when my threshold for buying books was problematically low. I thought little of the book for almost a decade and nearly ditched it last year. Now it's on my top shelf. I hope the author isn't delusional or something, because this is now a key book for me.
It took a few poems (and their commentary) to see beyond the bland simplicity. It helped to have all of those translations, especially the one that reveals the rhyme. I think I would love these poems if I could simultaneously hear their rhyme and comprehend their meaning. Unfortunately those two things happen in different languages for me. But even knowing the rhyme and meter are there convinces me these are all the more precious in the original tongue. I feel that way about lots of English poetry: I cherish the rhythm, rhyme, and puns, all of which must leave readers of translations underwhelmed. Music is integral to poetry, especially for someone like me. That's why translated poetry is tough. Seeing the original, as in this book, helps.
I picked up this book at an old library book sale, when my threshold for buying books was problematically low. I thought little of the book for almost a decade and nearly ditched it last year. Now it's on my top shelf. I hope the author isn't delusional or something, because this is now a key book for me.
It took a few poems (and their commentary) to see beyond the bland simplicity. It helped to have all of those translations, especially the one that reveals the rhyme. I think I would love these poems if I could simultaneously hear their rhyme and comprehend their meaning. Unfortunately those two things happen in different languages for me. But even knowing the rhyme and meter are there convinces me these are all the more precious in the original tongue. I feel that way about lots of English poetry: I cherish the rhythm, rhyme, and puns, all of which must leave readers of translations underwhelmed. Music is integral to poetry, especially for someone like me. That's why translated poetry is tough. Seeing the original, as in this book, helps.
February 10, 2013
This book will always be on my currently reading shelf as I am constantly turning to it when I have a spare moment. Reading a poem by Du Fu is like listening to a Bach cello suite or loosing yourself in some of Turner's watercolors.
January 31, 2016
I have studied Chinese in the past and I enjoy going back and forth between the English and Chinese. The selection of poets during the classical period include famous poets such as Li Bai and Du Fu as well as others that represent their period. I love the simplicity and directness of the poems.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews