Late Spring

Han YuJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJul 2024

4.0

Word count: 4.7K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive, and literary. Early thought forms are distinctive: religious theology, classical Chinese medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, and Hundred Schools thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their character and subtly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Han Yu's "Late Spring" is short in length yet lacks no vitality. Included in the "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series, it aims to preserve the original appearance of the book and present traditional poetry and prose as they truly are. Han Yu is famous for his prose, yet his poetry has its own distinct character. This short piece on late spring relies not on elaborate diction but on the selection of seasonal scenery and the calibration of tone, making it well suited for appreciating how Tang quatrains achieve much with little. The value of this book lies in providing a directly recitable original text, allowing readers to encounter the text first without being overwhelmed by excessive interpretation. While reading, note how imagery such as plants, wind, and rain is organized into the feeling of late spring drawing to a close, then consider why the poet concludes as he does. For readers wishing to complete their reading of Han Yu's poetry or to practice close reading with short pieces, this poem rewards repeated savoring and is also suitable for reading alongside Bai Juyi's poem on the same theme to compare how different poets frame the same seasonal subject and convey mood.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who have read Han Yu's prose and wish to learn more about his poetry
Language learners and self-studiers seeking short Tang poems as close-reading practice material
Readers who enjoy the quatrain form and wish to appreciate verbal precision in short works
Readers who wish to compare different Tang approaches to late spring through paired reading of same-titled poems

Not a good fit for

Scholarly readers needing detailed annotations, textual collation, and research on compositional background
Readers who prefer long narrative or prose essays and have limited interest in short poems
Beginners who rely entirely on vernacular translations and are not yet ready to engage with classical Chinese

Reading tips

First read aloud twice to feel the sentence endings and where the poem concludes, then go through line by line with annotations to resolve difficult words.
List the scenery in the poem in order of appearance, observe the sequence and level of detail in the poet's framing, and appreciate the intent behind the arrangement.
Read alongside Bai Juyi's "Climbing the South Tower of Dayun Temple in Late Spring," summarize each poem's mood in one sentence, then compare the differences.
Reread after a few days to see whether a second reading reveals words or turns you missed the first time.

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.

版权信息
晚春
卷五百五十八
卷五百五十九

FAQ

Is this poem similar in style to Han Yu's prose?

Han Yu is known for his classical prose, and his poetry is not entirely in the same key. This "Late Spring" is short and shows more of the crafting of scenery and tone. Readers should not approach it with the assumptions of reading prose; it is better to begin with the rhythm and imagery of the lines themselves, then look back to compare the differences between his poetry and prose.

Are the annotations in this book detailed?

Sources indicate that this series focuses on preserving the original appearance of the books and transmitting traditional thought and culture, without specifying the annotation format or level of detail. If you need detailed word-by-word annotations, it is advisable to check a sample chapter or table of contents of the physical book before purchasing to confirm whether the annotation style suits your reading habits.

Why read Han Yu's and Bai Juyi's "Late Spring" poems together?

Both poems treat late spring, so the subject matter is similar while the authors' styles differ, making it easier to see differences in framing, tone, and conclusion when read side by side. This comparison involves no judgment of superiority; it simply helps readers perceive the choices of poetic language more keenly through contrast.

How long does it take to read this short poem?

A single pass takes only a few minutes, but close reading can take longer. It is suggested to first read through quickly to grasp the general meaning, then read a second time with annotations to resolve difficult words, and a third time aloud to feel the rhythm. If time is limited, ten minutes a day over two or three sessions is more likely to leave an impression than reading it all at once.

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About the author

Han Yu Author · China

Han Yu (768–824), courtesy name Tuizhi, was a native of Heyang, Henan (present-day Mengzhou, Henan), with his ancestral home in Changli, hence known as Han Changli. A Tang dynasty writer, thinker and statesman, he championed the Classical Prose Movement, opposed the ornate style of parallel prose, and advocated that writing should convey the Way. He is ranked first among the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song and, together with Liu Zongyuan, is known as "Han and Liu," exerting a profound influence on later prose. His works span argumentative essays and landscape and lyrical poetry, marked by a vigorous, striking style. The collection holds 26 of his works, including the three-volume Annotated Collected Works of Han Changli (simplified edition), Collected Works of Han Yu and Han Yu's Collected Works (2 volumes), as well as poems such as "Spring Snow," "Late Spring," "Early Spring" and "Sixteen Poems on a Visit to the South of the City," and he also appears in Selected Works of the Eight Great Prose Masters: Han Yu.