The Selected Poems of T'ao Ch'ien | 
| Author: T'ao Ch'ien
Creator: David Hinton
Publisher: Copper Canyon Press
Category: Book
List Price: $11.00
Buy New: $5.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 449768
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 96
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.3
ISBN: 1556590563
Dewey Decimal Number: 895.112
EAN: 9781556590566
ASIN: 1556590563
Publication Date: May 1, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new, unused book! Very slight curl to front cover; tiny amount of wear at edges.
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Product Description
Chinese, tr David Hinton
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| Customer Reviews:
sincerity in action February 8, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The translations of T'ao Ch'ien's poetry by David Hinton represents a level of excellence not often achieved when translating non-comensurate languages. The English reads almost as if the poems had been written in that language and is a joy to read and re-read. Anyone interested in Asian poetry in general, and Chinese poetry in particular, should own a copy.
The poet of the earth-centered life of inner peace September 29, 2006
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
This poet is an inspiration for me. T'ao Ch'ien came from a respectable, connected family. He received a good education in the classics. He entered government service as he was expected- to serve his emperor, his country, his family. He even served on the staffs of two generals. He had it made.
Then one day he simply walked out on it all. He walked deep into the countryside and became a recluse and a farmer. He did this because he couldn't stand to serve overbearing and arrogant superiors. But mostly, he couldn't stand being distracted from a life of inner peace centered around the flow of nature. It also cut down on his drinking time.
T-ao Ch'ien didn't retire to become a gentleman farmer. He howed his own crops- and the rice jar was often empty. He seemed to have lived a life close to Thoreau's ideal, except that he kept it up for over 40 years until his death- a death that he did not fear.
Don't think that this was an idyllic period in Chinese history. The empire had been driven from the north. Rebellion raged in both the east and west. The empire was disintegrating. The poet talks about how few neighbors he had because the countryside was depopulated. Yet, nowhere will you find poetry that speaks more truthfully about the quiet, harmonious life lived close to the earth. There is no striving here. T'ao Ch'ien had already reached enlightenment before he ever put pen to paper. For a poet that never actually mentions the great Tao, it is obvious that his every moment was spent in its embrace.
The poet makes it clear that he doubts the existance of heaven and of the immortals. He would live his life no differently if they did; he would regard inevitable death no differently. One can not but hope that he was in error here, for if any being deserved a place at the table of the immortals it was T'ao Ch'ien- with an ever flowing wine jar.
one of China great poets, a great american translator July 9, 2000
40 out of 41 found this review helpful
I teach Chinese literature in translation, and a few other things, at the University of North Carolina, and I've used this in class since it came into print. Students who have slept thru earlier Chinese literature snap awake to these. I have called T'ao Ch'ien the first modern poet( in the world). Hinton, one our best translators, makes a good case for my assertion. Since you're here you might note how many of the top new translations from Chinese come from the same publisher... Copper Canyon.
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