Top 10 Chinese Tang Poems You Must Know: A Journey into the Heart of Classical Poetry

Top 10 Chinese Tang Poems You Must Know!

by Natalie Homer

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1975 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Lending	:	Enabled
Print length	:	16 pages
Paperback	:	258 pages
Item Weight	:	14.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.83 x 0.59 x 8.27 inches

FREE

Chinese Tang poetry, flourishing during the Tang dynasty (618-907),represents the pinnacle of Chinese literature. Its exquisite imagery, profound themes, and enduring legacy have captivated readers for centuries. Join us as we unveil the top 10 Tang poems that every literature lover should know, offering insights into their captivating beauty and timeless significance.

1. "Quiet Night Thought" by Li Bai

Original:
床前明月光，疑是地上霜。
舉頭望明月，低頭思故鄉。

Translation:
Moonlight before my bed,
I mistook it for frost on the ground.
Lifting my head, I gaze at the moon,
Lowering my head, I think of home.

Li Bai's "Quiet Night Thought" captures the essence of Tang poetry with its simplicity, evocative imagery, and poignant longing. The poem paints a vivid picture of a solitary figure gazing up at the moon, lost in contemplation of their distant homeland.

2. "Journey to the West" by Du Fu

Original:
西出陽關無故人，
羌笛何須怨楊柳，
春風不度玉門關。

Translation:
West of Yang Pass, I have no friends,
Why should the barbarian flute lament the willows?
The spring breeze does not cross Jade Gate Pass.

Du Fu's "Journey to the West" is a powerful and moving depiction of the hardships and desolation of war-torn China. The poem's stark imagery and mournful tone convey the poet's deep concern for his country and its suffering people.

3. "Spring River, Flower Moon, Night" by Zhang Ji

Original:
春江花月夜，
江水月輪迴，
兩岸青山相送迎。

Translation:
Spring river, flower moon, night,
The river water and the moon revolve,
On both banks, green hills escort us.

Zhang Ji's "Spring River, Flower Moon, Night" is a joyous celebration of the beauty and transience of life. The poem's lyrical language and vibrant imagery create an unforgettable sensory experience that captures the fleeting nature of human existence.

4. "Visiting Tianmu Mountain" by Li Bai

Original:
天門中断楚江開，
碧水東流至此回。
兩岸青山相對出，
孤帆一片日邊來。

Translation:
At the Heaven's Gate, the Chu River opens,
Green waters flow east and here turn back.
On both banks, green hills emerge in pairs,
A lone sail appears from where the sun sets.

Li Bai's "Visiting Tianmu Mountain" is a magnificent panorama of the breathtaking scenery of Mount Tianmu. The poem's sweeping imagery and rhythmic language transport the reader to a realm of towering peaks, shimmering rivers, and boundless horizons.

5. "Yellow Crane Tower" by Cui Hao

Original:
昔人已乘黃鶴去，
此地空餘黃鶴樓。
黃鶴一去不復返，
白雲千載空悠悠。

Translation:
The ancients have already ridden the yellow crane and gone,
Here remains only the Yellow Crane Tower.
The yellow crane has gone and will not return,
White clouds drift for a thousand years in vain.

Cui Hao's "Yellow Crane Tower" is a poignant meditation on time and loss. The poem evokes the legendary tale of a Taoist immortal who ascended to heaven on the back of a yellow crane, leaving behind only the empty tower that bears its name.

6. "Farewell to a Friend" by Li Bai

Original:
桃花潭水深千尺，
不及汪倫送我情。
桃花潭水深千丈，
不及汪倫送我情。

Translation:
Peach Blossom Pool's water is a thousand feet deep,
But it cannot compare to Wang Lun's farewell.
Peach Blossom Pool's water is a thousand fathoms deep,
But it cannot compare to Wang Lun's farewell.

Top 10 Chinese Tang Poems You Must Know!

by Natalie Homer

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1975 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Lending	:	Enabled
Print length	:	16 pages
Paperback	:	258 pages
Item Weight	:	14.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.83 x 0.59 x 8.27 inches

FREE