Anthology of Modern Chinese Poetry

by Michelle Yeh (Editor)

This book—the first comprehensive anthology in English of modern Chinese poetry—presents more than three hundred poems by sixty-six poets from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. All the poems are translated from the original Chinese into modern-day English, and many are introduced to the English-speaking world for the first time. The poems, which span the period from the 1910s to the present, represent the three watersheds in modern Chinese the early years, before the civil war and Communist rule halted serious literary pursuits; the Taiwan phase, from the 1950s to the 1970s, when the vernacular became the new poetic medium and broadened the scope of poetic expression; and the post-1970s, when avant-garde movements brought a resurgence of aesthetic consciousness and artistic experimentation. The anthology includes a lengthy introduction, biographical notes for each poet, and a select bibliography.

Michelle Yeh's introduction provides a critical analysis of the rise and development of modern Chinese poetry. She argues that the poetry can be viewed collectively as an original and imaginative reaction to the marginalization of poetry in the twentieth century by various historical, sociopolitical, and ideological forces, and it is in this framework that we can best understand the major debates and controversies in the history of modern Chinese poetry. Voices from the margin, the poems in this volume powerfully evoke the richness and complexity of modern Chinese society and culture.

Genres: Poetry, China

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Paul H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The twentieth century is full of tragedies, obviously; so much so, perhaps, that the minor tragedies have largely gone unexplored. One of these very minor tragedies is the collapse of Chinese/Japanese poetry in the face of the onslaught of Western cultural influence, where virtually all poets working in these traditions decided to just start writing pure doggerel, terrible imitations of the worst Western poets.

Three thousand years of Chinese poetry -- the greatest continuous literary tradition in the history of the world -- ended with this:

With a plop the masters
sit on the bench for kindergarten children
and spring on us the baby smell of the Oedipus complex.
On the floor a choo-choo train rolls toward the future.

-- Yan Li

The sea is too deep
the shores do not know that, either
this story is crimson
besides, it is corny
so it is actually about tomato sauce

-- Xia Yu

[Maggie Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit, I am only half way through with this book, but it is the best book of poetry I ever have read, no exceptions. I love it! I am savoring each wonderful poem, every caption about the poets, every letter like chocolate, like a hot bath, like a cup of necessary tea.

[Ele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful selection of poetry, at least once you find them after the very lengthy introduction. They also have brief introductions to each poet (though I wish these were longer). I would highly recommend for people looking into Asian poetry.

[Maggie Klotzbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best poetry anthology’s I’ve read. Got the book from the library and then had to buy a copy of my own.