Tang Poetry

Name: Tang Poetry
ISBN: 9787545104066

Xiao FengLiaohai Publishing House · ChinaApr 2025

4.3

Word count: 49K words
Chapters: 33
ISBN: 9787545104066

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Summary

This volume includes such works as Song of Mount Lu Sent to Censor Lu Xuzhou, Dreaming of Tianmu and Leaving Farewell, The Road to Shu Is Hard, Endless Longing (two poems), Hard Is the Road, Bring in the Wine, To Meng Haoran, Seeing Off a Friend, and Climbing Phoenix Terrace at Jinling.

Editor's review

The selections in this volume focus on Li Bai's major works, from The Road to Shu Is Hard, Bring in the Wine, and Hard Is the Road to Dreaming of Tianmu and Leaving Farewell, To Meng Haoran, and Seeing Off a Friend. Their subjects range across landscape, wine, farewell, and personal reflection, and together they sketch the typical character of Li Bai's poetry. For beginners, this is a well-sized anthology with a clear focus: the poems are canonical and make it easy to experience the imaginative power and linguistic sweep of High Tang poetry in concentrated form. It is best not read for recitation alone; begin by learning the background and emotional tenor of each poem, then read aloud repeatedly to feel the shifts in rhythm and wording. Most pieces here are long songs, so read them in several sittings rather than all at once, lest too much at one time leave only a blurred impression. Reading alongside the notes and commentary yields better results. Suitable as close-reading material for an introduction to classical poetry, and also as an anthology for classroom recitation or self-study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginning readers of classical poetry who want to concentrate on Li Bai's representative works
Students who need canonical pieces for morning reading or classroom recitation
General enthusiasts interested in High Tang poetry and Li Bai's style
Readers who want to build a foundation with selected pieces before reading more widely

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a comprehensive survey of Tang poets and periods
Learners who need detailed annotations and line-by-line explanation
Readers who prefer short quatrains and lack patience for long songs

Reading tips

Learn the background of each poem first, then read aloud to feel its rhythm and momentum.
Read long songs in two or three sittings, summarizing the emotional movement in your own words after each.
Pick out recurring images such as wine, the moon, and mountains, and compare how Li Bai uses them in different poems.
After finishing, try memorizing one or two short pieces, such as Seeing Off a Friend, to consolidate your sense of the language.

About the publisher

Liaohai Publishing House China · Founded in 1996

Liaohai Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for textbooks and the collation of ancient works. Its publishing scope covers state-approved textbooks, local curriculum materials, supplementary educational books, and national and local ancient-text compilation projects, while also extending into humanities fields such as Eastern philosophy. Its catalog contains about 4,694 titles, with representative works including the multi-volume Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), and its author resources include classic writers and works such as Sima Qian and Confucius. Grounded in educational publishing and the transmission of traditional culture, the press maintains sustained investment in ancient-text collation, forming a publishing profile that balances textbooks and scholarship. Due to limited public information, its more specific publishing directions and features require further supplementation.

版权信息
文前
目录
张继诗集
薛涛诗集
崔曙诗集
苏味道诗集
虞世南诗集
罗隐诗集
马戴诗集
刘叉诗集
韦应物诗集
杜审言诗集
崔颢诗集
王湾诗集
孟浩然诗集
王之涣诗集
贺知章诗集
元稹诗集
崔护诗集
刘方平诗集
于良史诗集
聂夷中诗集
于鹄诗集
祖咏诗集
杨师道诗集
赵徵明诗集
张若虚诗集
袁郊诗集
崔涯诗集
刘禹锡诗集
张仲素诗集
秦韬玉诗集

FAQ

Does this book contain only poems by Li Bai?

Judging from the listed contents, the volume concentrates on works attributed to Li Bai, including The Road to Shu Is Hard, Bring in the Wine, Hard Is the Road, Dreaming of Tianmu and Leaving Farewell, To Meng Haoran, Seeing Off a Friend, and Climbing Phoenix Terrace at Jinling; it is a selection of Li Bai's poetry. To learn about other Tang poets, you will need a separate comprehensive anthology of Tang poetry.

The pieces are rather long. What should beginners do if they find them difficult?

Long songs do require patience. Read them in several sittings, taking one section or one poem at a time; grasp the overall emotional movement first, then look closely at the wording. Use the notes to understand allusions and place names, and do not feel you must understand everything at once. Repeated reading aloud is more effective than word-by-word scrutiny.

What background does one need before reading this anthology?

A basic vocabulary of classical Chinese and some familiarity with classical poetry are enough; most pieces here are famous works, so the barrier to understanding is not high. When you meet allusions or uncommon characters, the notes and reference books will suffice. Readers who have not systematically studied Tang poetry can also start with this anthology.

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About the author

Xiao Feng Author · China · 1926–2001

Xiao Feng (1926–2001) was born in Pinglu, Shanxi, and graduated from the Department of Chinese Literature at Peking University in 1946. He worked as a reporter and editor for China Youth Publishing House and the magazine Traveler, taught at Renmin University of China and Beijing Normal University, later served as deputy editor-in-chief and editor-in-chief, and joined the Chinese Writers Association in 1984. He co-edited works such as A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Tourism, Fifty Famous Travel Essays, and Beautiful China, and published hundreds of essays, travel pieces, and literary reviews. His works span inspirational growth, classic literature, and prose miscellany. The library holds over a thousand of his titles, including selected editions of Lu Xun's works and Les Misérables. Public information is limited, but his writing and editorial work were aimed at general readers and helped popularize classics and promote prose and travel writing.