Reply to a Guest's Questions about Hangzhou

Bai JuyiJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJun 2024

4.0

Word count: 4.3K words
Chapters: 48

Summary

Bai Juyi (772–846), courtesy name Letian, later also known as Layman Xiangshan, was a native of Xinzheng, Zhengzhou, Henan. He was a great realist poet of the Tang dynasty; his poetry covers a wide range of subjects in diverse forms, with plain and accessible language, and he was known as the "Poet Demon" and "Poet King."

Editor's review

"Answering a Guest's Questions About Hangzhou" uses Bai Juyi's pen and the form of answering a guest's questions to discuss Hangzhou, combining local scenery with literati sensibility. Bai Juyi's poetry is plain and accessible, and his descriptions of scenery and events are often intimate and vivid; this piece continues that quality: it does not pile up obscure allusions or show off learning, but in question and answer gently unfolds Hangzhou's topography, local features, and the feeling of dwelling and traveling there. Its value lies in letting readers know Hangzhou from the perspective of a Tang literatus and in offering a window onto a more everyday, gentler side of Bai Juyi beyond his label as a "realist poet." It is short and suitable as light selected reading in classical prose or poetry, and also for reading alongside Bai Juyi's other works of scenery and travel. When reading, note how scenery is selected and how the guest's questions are answered, and appreciate the ancient approach to writing about a city—not panoramic exposition but revealing character through details.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Bai Juyi's prose and poetry and Tang literati life
Readers who want to learn about Hangzhou's scenery and customs from classical texts
Students and self-learners needing short classical Chinese reading material
Casual readers who enjoy question-and-answer and essayistic writing

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking systematic historical and geographical knowledge of Hangzhou
Travelers expecting long travelogues or detailed introductions to attractions
Those with low tolerance for classical expression who want only vernacular reading

Reading tips

First learn the general connection between Bai Juyi and Hangzhou; this makes the text easier to enter.
Mark the scenic passages as you read and compare them with present-day Hangzhou.
Read alongside Bai Juyi's other scenery and travel works to appreciate his language style.

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
【小院酒醒】白居易
卷446_66【赠侯三郎中】白居易
卷446_67【求分司东都，寄牛相公十韵】白居易
卷446_68【酬杨八】白居易
卷446_69【履道新居二十韵】白居易
卷446_70【九日思杭州旧游，寄周判官及诸客】白居易
卷446_71【秋晚】白居易
卷446_72【分司】白居易
卷446_73【河南王尹初到，以诗代书先问之】白居易
卷446_74【池西亭】白居易
卷446_75【临池闲卧】白居易
卷446_76【吾庐】白居易
卷446_77【题新居，寄宣州崔相公（所居南邻即崔家池）】白居易
卷446_78【忆杭州梅花，因叙旧游，寄萧协律】白居易
卷446_79【病中辱张常侍题集贤院诗，因以继和】白居易
卷446_80【早春晚归】白居易
卷446_81【赠杨使君】白居易
卷446_82【赠皇甫庶子】白居易
卷446_83【池上竹下作】白居易
卷446_84【闲出觅春，戏赠诸郎官】白居易
卷446_85【别春炉】白居易
卷446_86【泛小fq二首】白居易
卷446_87【梦行简】白居易
卷446_88【题新居呈王尹，兼简府中三掾】白居易
卷446_89【云和】白居易
卷446_90【春老】白居易
卷446_91【春雪过皇甫家】白居易
卷446_92【崔侍御以孩子三日示其所生诗见示因以二绝句和之】白居易
卷446_93【与皇甫庶子同游城东】白居易
卷446_94【洛城东花下作】白居易
卷446_95【晚春寄微之并崔湖州】白居易
卷446_96【城东闲行，因题尉迟司业水阁】白居易
卷446_97【寄皇甫七】白居易
卷446_98【访皇甫七】白居易
卷447_1【除苏州刺史，别洛城东花】白居易
卷447_2【奉和汴州令狐令公二十二韵（同用淹字）】白居易
卷447_3【船夜援琴】白居易
卷447_4【答刘和州禹锡】白居易
卷447_5【渡淮】白居易
卷447_6【赴苏州至常州，答贾舍人】白居易
卷447_7【去岁罢杭州今春领吴郡惭无善政聊写鄙怀兼寄三相公】白居易
卷447_8【宣武令狐相公以诗寄赠传播吴中聊奉短草用申酬谢】白居易
卷447_9【自咏】白居易
卷447_10【吟前篇，因寄微之】白居易
卷447_11【紫薇花】白居易
卷447_12【自到郡斋仅经旬日方专公务未及宴游偷闲…仍呈吴中诸客】白居易
卷447_17【题笼鹤】白居易

FAQ

Is "Answering a Guest's Questions About Hangzhou" a poem or prose?

Judging from the title and the question-and-answer form, it is a short piece developed through questions and answers, using a guest's questions to introduce discussion of Hangzhou. The materials give only the title and author information and do not specify genre details; readers may treat it as Bai Juyi's question-and-answer writing about Hangzhou, focusing on its language and perspective.

Can I read it without knowing Bai Juyi?

Yes. The piece is short and relatively plain in language, so readers unfamiliar with Bai Juyi can grasp the gist from the questions and answers. For deeper reading, spend a few minutes on common public-domain knowledge such as Bai Juyi's service as governor of Hangzhou, then return to the text's impressions of Hangzhou for smoother understanding.

Is it suitable to read before traveling?

It suits as atmospheric reading before a trip, not as a guidebook. It offers a Tang literatus's impressions and feelings about Hangzhou, adding historical imagination to sightseeing; but it contains no specific routes, transport, or modern attraction information, so practical guides should be used alongside it.

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About the author

Bai Juyi Author · Chinese

Bai Juyi (772–846), courtesy name Letian and styled Xiangshan Jushi, was born in Xinzheng, Henan, with ancestral roots in Taiyuan. A leading Tang dynasty realist poet, he championed the New Yuefu movement together with Yuan Zhen, and the two were known as "Yuan-Bai"; he is also paired with Liu Yuxi as "Liu-Bai." Bai Juyi served as a Hanlin academician and Left Remonstrator, among other posts. His wide-ranging work includes satirical poems on the hardships of ordinary people and long narrative and lyrical songs. Masterpieces such as "Song of Everlasting Sorrow," "Song of the Pipa," and "The Charcoal Seller" are noted for their plain, natural language and sincere feeling, and have exerted a lasting influence on later poetry. His Bai Shi Changqing Collection survives, and this library holds 77 of his works, including poems, prose collections, and verse groups such as Poems from Qin and Spring by the Xunyang River, commonly classed under ancient poetry, classic works, and inspirational growth.