Top 10 works of Chinese literature
- By Elaine Duan
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, December 1, 2010
Li Bai 's Poetry (simplified Chinese: 李白诗集; pinyin: Lǐ Bái Shī Jí)
Li Bai (701-762), sometimes known as Li Po or Li Bo, was one of the great poets of the Tang Dynasty along with Du Fu and Wang Wei.
A great traveler who wrote wherever he happened to be, Li Bai was known for his great love of drinking, extravagant imagination and the striking imagery of his poetry.
Over 1,000 poems attributed to Li Bai remain today. His themes are universal -- the joys of reunion, the sorrows of parting, the majesty of mountains and oceans, birth, aging, death, and all aspects of life.
While the poet's works have been read for centuries in China, they did not reach a Western audience until a French translation appeared in 1862. In 1901, H.A. Giles produced an English translation, and in 1915 Ezra Pound contributed to the popularization of Li Bai in the West with his free translations in the collection called "Cathay".
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)