PoemsWang Wei, one of Chinese literature's greatest poets, divided his time between the court and his country estate, where he drew inspiration from the mountains and solitude. His poetry affirms his belief in a whole natural order, and his delicately observed descriptions of landscapes are infused throughout with a sense of unity and Buddhist devotion. Yet it also bears testament to the tension Wang Wei experienced in his own life, between that unity and the worldly pleasures of life at court: the result is some of the most memorable poetry in Chinese literature. |
Common terms and phrases
autumn Bamboo banks birds blue boat Book bright brother called capital carriage Ch’in Ch’u Chang Chinese clear cold colours comes couplet court dark deep died distant door drink dust dynasty east emperor empty fall feeling fish flowers flying four garden gate Goodbye grass green hair head hills Japanese known Lake leaves light lines lived look lovely mean miles moon Mount mountains natural never night old style opening original P’ei palace pass Peach period pines plain poem poet poetry probably rain reference rock shines singing Songs soon sound South spring stream Temple thoughts thousand translation trees turn valley vast village walk Wang River Wang Wei Wei’s white clouds wild Willow wind woods written