Mountain Inn cover

Mountain Inn

Rating 3.4
Word count
3.3K words
Chapters
48

Tags

Summary

"Mountain Inn" is a seven-character quatrain by the Tang poet Lu Lun (attributed by some to Wang Jian).

Editor's review

"Mountain Inn" is only a seven-character quatrain of the Tang dynasty—extremely short—yet it holds special bibliographic interest because its authorship is disputed between Lu Lun and Wang Jian. This edition, printed by Shanghai Jinzhang Book Company and reprinted in 2024, is suitable as an introductory reader or reference copy for classical poetry. Its value lies not in extensive annotation or in-depth appreciation but in offering a portable, easy-to-consult text of a single poem, allowing readers to encounter a compact Tang quatrain directly. When reading, one may focus on the mountain inn scene and the traveler's feelings depicted in the poem, and appreciate how the quatrain says much with little. Because the content is minimal, a standalone volume is better suited to readers collecting editions or studying the authorship question, and can also serve as material for calligraphy or recitation. Those expecting a systematic anthology of Tang poetry or detailed commentary will find it thin. Overall, this is a lightweight classical poetry reader, suitable for browsing in spare moments rather than as the sole resource for studying Tang poetry.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • General readers interested in Tang quatrains who want a short poem to leaf through
  • Scholars of classical literature concerned with the authorship of Lu Lun or Wang Jian
  • Enthusiasts needing short poetic texts as material for calligraphy or recitation
  • Collectors of editions such as Jinzhang Book Company printings

Not a good fit for

  • Beginners in Tang poetry seeking detailed annotation and in-depth appreciation
  • Teachers and students needing a systematic Tang poetry anthology for coursework
  • Readers who prefer long works or richer reading content

Reading tips

  1. Read the poem through first, then consult relevant materials on the Lu Lun and Wang Jian attributions to form your own judgment.
  2. Read it alongside the broader context of Tang travel poetry to see how the mountain inn image is commonly used.
  3. Copy out or recite the poem once to feel the rhythm and suggestiveness of the seven-character quatrain.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 【送颜推官游银夏谒韩大夫】卢纶
  3. 【咸阳送房济侍御归太原幕(昔尝与济同游此邑)】卢纶
  4. 【宝泉寺送李益端公归邠宁幕】卢纶
  5. 【送何召下第后归蜀】卢纶
  6. 【宿定陵寺(寺在陵内)】卢纶
  7. 【送彭开府往云中觐使君兄】卢纶
  8. 【送李缃】卢纶
  9. 【送内弟韦宗仁归信州觐省】卢纶
  10. 【长安疾后首秋夜即事(一作陈羽诗)】卢纶
  11. 【送崔琦赴宣州幕】卢纶
  12. 【送杨皞东归】卢纶
  13. 【至德中途中书事却寄李僴】卢纶
  14. 【奉和太常王卿酬中书李舍人中书寓直春夜对月见寄】卢纶
  15. 【酬包佶郎中览拙卷后见寄】卢纶
  16. 【送史寀滑州谒贾仆射】卢纶
  17. 【送鲍中丞赴太原】卢纶
  18. 【送耿拾遗湋充括图书使往江淮】卢纶
  19. 【送郭判官赴振武】卢纶
  20. 【春江夕望】卢纶
  21. 【送元昱尉义兴】卢纶
  22. 【送黎兵曹往陕府结亲(所昏即君从母女弟)】卢纶
  23. 【送乐平苗明府】卢纶
  24. 【晚到盩厔耆老家】卢纶
  25. 【卧病书怀】卢纶
  26. 【落第后归终南别业】卢纶
  27. 【送朝邑张明府(此公善琴)】卢纶
  28. 【送李方东归(即故李校书端亲弟)】卢纶
  29. 【秋晚霁后野望忆夏侯审】卢纶
  30. 【送王尊师(一作道士)】卢纶
  31. 【送抚州周使君(即侍中之婿)】卢纶
  32. 【赠别司空曙】卢纶
  33. 【送王录事赴任苏州(即舍人堂弟)】卢纶
  34. 【大梵山寺院奉呈趣上人赵中丞】卢纶
  35. 【送恒操上人归江外觐省】卢纶
  36. 【上巳日陪齐相公花楼宴】卢纶
  37. 【寒食】卢纶
  38. 【舟中寒食】卢纶
  39. 【元日早朝呈故省诸公】卢纶
  40. 【元日朝回中夜书情,寄南宫二故人】卢纶
  41. 【裴给事宅白牡丹(一作裴潾诗)】卢纶
  42. 【送韦判官得雨中山】卢纶
  43. 【送宛丘任少府】卢纶
  44. 【送永阳崔明府】卢纶
  45. 【割飞二刀子歌】卢纶
  46. 【送郎士元使君赴郢州】卢纶
  47. 【春词】卢纶
  48. 【清如玉壶冰】卢纶

FAQ

Is the author of this poem Lu Lun or Wang Jian?
Sources indicate that "Mountain Inn" has been attributed to both Lu Lun and Wang Jian, showing that attribution diverged as ancient texts were transmitted. Readers may consult general anthologies of Tang and Song poetry or relevant textual scholarship, comparing the evidence for each attribution, without rushing to a conclusion.
Is a single quatrain worth reading on its own?
A standalone volume makes it easy to savor one short poem closely and is also useful as material for studying editions or authorship. For systematic study of Tang poetry, pair it with anthologies and annotated editions and treat it as a sample for close reading.
From what angles can one approach this short poem?
One may begin with imagery, seeing how the mountain inn, traveler, and setting form a picture; or with the structure of the quatrain, appreciating its opening, development, turn, and conclusion along with what is left unsaid; one may also consider how different attributions affect the understanding of its style.

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About the author

卢纶 Author

Lu Lun was a poet of the Tang dynasty. Publicly available sources on his life and official career are limited, and neither the exact years of his birth and death nor his native place is clearly recorded. Five of his works are extant here, most of them belonging to classical poetry. Pieces such as the Song of the Frontier show his attention to garrison life and frontier scenery, with a vigorous tone and strong visual imagery, while poems like Spring Day at the Ba Pavilion, Sent with Secretary Miao, Inscribed above the Yunji Temple, The Mountain Inn, and Presented to Mr. Dong of the Hermit's Retreat after Taking Medicine touch on farewell and correspondence, visits and inscriptions, and mountain journeys, revealing his social circle and everyday writing. Overall, Lu Lun's style is clear, austere, and concise; he is skilled at arranging scenery and feeling within short pieces, and his frontier poems in particular show strength of character. They have often been included in anthologies of Tang poetry and have had some influence on later reading and reception of frontier verse. Owing to insufficient documentation, details of his life and a definitive judgment of his literary standing await further research.

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