Later Han Section

周昙Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

3.3

Word count: 2.4K words
Chapters: 49

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Summary

Zhou Tan, birth and death years unknown, native place unknown. A Tang dynasty poet.

Editor's review

The Later Han Gate is a volume connected with Zhou Tan's poems, published by Nanhai Publishing House in 2024. Zhou Tan was a Tang dynasty poet whose birth and death years and native place are all unknown, which in itself lends his work an air of mystery. Judging from the title The Later Han Gate, the content should relate to Eastern Han history or to the imagery of city gates and palace towers, belonging to the tradition of poems on history and antiquities. Such works often use the rise and fall of dynasties to express reflection, with compressed language and implicit meaning, suited to careful reading in quieter conditions. The book presents Zhou Tan's perspective on history, letting readers appreciate how a Tang poet looked back on Later Han affairs and how he used gates and towers as an entry point for historical imagination. Because biographical material on the author is limited, readers need not insist on reconstructing the poet's life but should focus on the historical references and emotional expression in the lines themselves. For readers who enjoy poems on history and are interested in Tang poetry on historical themes, this book offers a literary window for re-examining Later Han history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in poems on history and Tang poetry on historical themes
Readers of literature and history who enjoy drawing lessons from the past and reflecting on the rise and fall of dynasties
Classical literature readers seeking to supplement their knowledge of lesser-known Tang poets
Readers willing to accept an author with an unknown biography and to focus on the text

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping for a complete biography and detailed chronology of Zhou Tan
Beginner readers needing vernacular translations and line-by-line annotations
Those who prefer lyrical short poems and lack interest in historical subjects

Reading tips

First gain a general outline of Eastern Han history, then read The Later Han Gate to grasp the historical references in the poems more easily.
Read the historical poems alongside relevant historical records and compare the differences between poetic expression and historical accounts.
After finishing each poem, write one sentence about your thoughts on the rise and fall of dynasties to accumulate reading insights.
Compare with works by other late Tang poets who wrote on history to observe different approaches to the same historical subjects.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
【春秋战国门？田子奇】周昙
卷728_104【春秋战国门？百里奚】周昙
卷728_105【春秋战国门？孙叔敖】周昙
卷728_106【春秋战国门？鲁仲连】周昙
卷728_107【春秋战国门？宋子罕】周昙
卷728_108【春秋战国门？宫之奇】周昙
卷728_109【春秋战国门？王孙满】周昙
卷728_110【春秋战国门？颜叔子】周昙
卷728_111【春秋战国门？张孟谭】周昙
卷728_112【春秋战国门？公子无忌】周昙
卷728_113【春秋战国门？再吟】周昙
卷728_114【春秋战国门？侯嬴朱亥】周昙
卷728_115【春秋战国门？再吟】周昙
卷七百二十九
卷729_1【秦门？胡亥】周昙
卷729_2【秦门？再吟】周昙
卷729_3【秦门？赵高】周昙
卷729_4【秦门？陈涉】周昙
卷729_5【秦门？项籍】周昙
卷729_6【秦门？范增】周昙
卷729_7【前汉门？高祖】周昙
卷729_8【前汉门？再吟】周昙
卷729_9【前汉门？周苛纪信】周昙
卷729_10【前汉门？酂侯】周昙
卷729_11【前汉门？曲逆侯】周昙
卷729_12【前汉门？薛公】周昙
卷729_13【前汉门？条侯】周昙
卷729_14【前汉门？平津侯】周昙
卷729_15【前汉门？博陆侯】周昙
卷729_16【前汉门？夏贺良】周昙
卷729_17【前汉门？王莽】周昙
卷729_18【前汉门？再吟】周昙
卷729_19【前汉门？又吟】周昙
卷729_20【前汉门？毛延寿】周昙
卷729_21【前汉门？刘圣公】周昙
卷729_22【前汉门？樊崇徐宣】周昙
卷729_23【前汉门？僭号公孙述】周昙
卷729_24【后汉门？光武】周昙
卷729_25【后汉门？明帝】周昙
卷729_26【后汉门？桓帝】周昙
卷729_27【后汉门？灵帝】周昙
卷729_28【后汉门？废帝】周昙
卷729_29【后汉门？献帝】周昙
卷729_30【后汉门？再吟】周昙
卷729_31【后汉门？子密】周昙
卷729_32【后汉门？羊续】周昙
卷729_33【后汉门？杨震】周昙
卷729_34【后汉门？赵孝】周昙

FAQ

Why is there so little biographical material on Zhou Tan?

According to the available material, Zhou Tan's birth and death years are unknown and his native place is also unknown; he is known only as a Tang dynasty poet. Many minor poets of antiquity left limited biographical information because their works were scattered and lost or because historical biographies failed to record them. This does not hinder reading his poems; rather, it allows readers to focus on the text itself and appreciate his historical perspective and emotions through the lines.

Does The Later Han Gate write about Eastern Han history?

Judging from the title, "Later Han" usually refers to the Eastern Han, and "Gate" may refer to city gates, palace towers, or a historical entry point; overall it should belong to the tradition of poems on history and antiquities. The material does not provide the content of specific pieces, so it is unwise to assert that every poem is about the Eastern Han; readers should rely on the actual text in the book.

Can I read this book without a historical background?

Yes, but it is advisable first to skim a brief history of the Eastern Han and learn the key points such as the Guangwu Restoration, eunuchs and consort clans, the partisan prohibitions, and the turmoil of the final years. Poems on history often use historical events to express reflection; with basic background knowledge, the references in the lines become clearer and the reading experience smoother.

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About the author

周昙 Author

Zhou Tan is an ancient poet about whom very little is known: his birthplace, dates of birth and death, and courtesy name cannot be reliably established, and the available public information is limited, so he can be known today only through his surviving poems. Four of his works are held in the collection, including the representative pieces "The Gate of the Later Han," "The Gate of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods: Recited Again," and "The Gate of Tang and Yu: Recited Again." As the titles suggest, his writing is largely historical verse, chanting on figures and events from the Tang and Yu era through the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods to the Later Han. Such works typically use past events to convey praise and blame, expressing reflections on rise and fall, gain and loss within concise lines, and combining poetic resonance with a sense of historical commentary. His poems are often grouped under ancient poetry and literary appreciation, offering readers texts through which to savor the traditional theme of historical verse.