Chinese Through Poetry: An introduction to the language and imagery of traditional verse.

by Archie Barnes

Chinese script, grammar and vocabulary are taught from scratch, enabling the book to be used as an introduction to Classical Chinese literature. It is also suitable as a part of a course in Classical Chinese, with or without previous knowledge of Chinese. The exercises are structured and progressive so each is restricted to the vocabulary and grammar met so far. It will also be of interest to ethnic Chinese wishing to recover their cultural roots.

Genres: Poetry, China, Language, Textbooks

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sublime immersive experience, a sort of mini-course in poetic Chinese, geared toward teaching an absolute beginner just enough about the script, vocabulary, grammar, poetic conventions (parallelism, tone patterns, rhymes, etc.), and cultural background of classical Chinese poetry that you will eventually be able to fumble your way through surprisingly many of this tradition's greatest poems in their original language. It might have been nice to have had an index with just a bit of biographical information about each of the poets, but I understand that that's sort of far afield of the intent of this perfectly constructed little book.

Here are the English cribs I made of a few of the shorter poems:

White sun docks on mountaintops;
Yellow River joins the sea.
To feed far-searching eyes,
I continue to ascend the tower.
-Wang Zhihuan


Above all these mountains, no more birds fly.
On all these paths, no footprints show.
In a boat, one old man in a straw hat and cape
is fishing in the river snow.
-Liu Zongyuan


Under pines I ask the servant boy;
he says his master's gone herb-gathering
amid these mountains,
the clouds so deep, he knows not where.
-Jia Dao


At the foot of the bed, a patch of moonlight.
I mistook it at first for frost.
I raise my head and gaze at the moon,
then look down again, homesickness-stricken.
-Li Bai


Shoo the orioles,
shush their treetop noise,
lest it eject me from dreams
of trekking to Liaoxi.
-Jin Changxu


In the east, the grass is silky green;
in the west, the mulberry tree is foliage-heavy.
You dream of visiting home;
my heart twinges.
Spring breeze, no friend of mine,
what are you lifting my curtain for?
-Li Bai [particularly pertinent as we enter another spring of social distancing!]


I rent rooms on a crowded street
but never startle at a car.
What's my secret? Cloistered minds
feel peace no matter where they are.

I pick mums by the eastern fence.
Remotely, southern hilltops swell.
In wholesome upland air by night
the birds fly home in parallel.

I sense a deep truth taking shape.
I'd tell you what, but words escape.
-Tao Yuanming [this poem really speaks to me in these times of increased societal anxiety]


In spring, moss lines the rocks with green.
Tree shade sinks in the frigid well.
When the hermit fills his pail,
he quaffs the mirrored evening sun.
-Sikong Shu

[Jason G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning the language of Classical Chinese poetry. Although maybe not necessary, I would say that this book would be most useful to someone with at least a basic knowledge of Chinese already.

[Michelle Wruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure. Barnes gives us a peak into a cultural phenomenon that has never been so accessible before. The poetry unfolds before your eyes. A real treasure.

[ortsz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just about flawless. A complete self study course for learning to read Classical Chinese poetry. Engagingly written and brilliantly structured.

[Erebmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Use it!