Chinese poetry is amazing, multifaceted, mysterious and romantic. It is difficult to translate, but accessible to understanding not by the mind, but by the heart. The poetry of China is the poetry of thought. The poems of Chinese poets since the appearance of the very first lines, born several tens of centuries ago, belong to the world because of their openness to it.
Sources and examples of ancient Chinese poetry
The ancient Chinese poets of the Neolithic era (about VIII-III millennium BC. E.), no matter how ridiculous it may sound, composed their first poems, when many centuries had to pass before the appearance of hieroglyphic writing. The archaic nature of poetic sources is confirmed by archaeological materials found in ancient China.
Drawings depicting dancing people were applied to musical instruments and vessels made of ceramics of that ancient era. Therefore, it is assumed that the poetic element was the most important component of the then-emerging dance and musical art, which at first had a ritual character.
The mythical stories of ancient China describe creativity as a divine gift that was available to god-like characters and supreme rulers. Or people created on divine commission.
This is confirmed by the translation of one of the fragments of an ancient treatise called "Spring and Autumn of Mr. Lui", which was created in the middle of the III century BC. The meaning of the passage is as follows: "Di Ku ordered Xiao Hei to create singing and he came up with ...". The following is a list of invented songs.
Starting from the first half of the Zhou era, the art of versification gradually became an independent creative unit that existed separately from the ritual with its dances and music.
So, around the VIII century BC. e. the term "shi" appeared, which denoted poems by Chinese poets and, in fact, poetry. The most ancient are considered poetic texts printed on bronze vessels.
Today, more than 40 examples of such inscriptions from the X-VIII centuries are known. BC e. applied to hard surfaces: stone, ceramic or metal. These inscriptions are poetic chronicle writings that describe the genealogy of the owner of the vessel and significant moments of life since the time of the first rulers of Zhou.
“Chu stanzas” or “Chu tsy” code
The Chu kingdom is the southern regions downstream of the Yangtze River, which existed during the XI-III centuries. BC e. The tradition of poetic creativity of this period is most clearly expressed in the works of the Chu Chinese poets Qu Yuan and Song Yu, who lived in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e.
A distinctive feature of the author’s works of these poets was the power of personal emotional experiences, which is shown through the image of the exiled poet, experiencing a life drama, who discovered the imperfection of the world and the injustice of the surrounding society.
Such courage in expressing one’s own emotions has its roots. In contrast to the rites of the Yellow River districts, the ritual activity of local culture allowed rituals in which poetic texts expressed momentary human emotions that arise when communicating with higher powers during these rites.
Shi Jing - Book of Songs
The birth of the famous Confucian Book of Songs completed the formation of literary poetry in China. Scientists have proven that this anthology was composed by Confucius himself, having placed, among other things, a whole collection of poetic texts that told about the essence of chants performed in the process of sacrifice and court ceremonies.
The anthology of Shi Ching includes many poetic works that were created before our era, in the XI-VIII centuries. Subsequently, Chinese poetry developed under the influence of this great book.
Shi ching has become a source of knowledge about human society and nature. It included 305 poetic texts, the period of creation of which is XI-VI centuries. BC e. The book of songs consists of four sections:
- "Guo-feng", in the translation of "Morals of the kingdoms." It contains 160 songs belonging to the fifteen kingdoms that are part of the Ancient China of the Zhou Dynasty (sincere poetic folk songs about sincere feelings).
- "Xiao I," translated as "Small Odes." Here the ancient rulers are glorified with their exploits (an example of court poetry).
- “Yes I am,” translated “Great Odes.” It contains poetic texts directly of the Zhou tribe (written by court poets).
- “Song,” translated as “Hymns.” Here are collected temple chants and hymns written in honor of the ancient Chinese dynasties.
Each of these sections is an independent book. The anthology enjoyed unprecedented popularity both among the people and among the ancient elite. One who knew the Songs was respected and considered an educated person. However, in 213 BC, almost all Shi Ching books, along with other Confucian works, were burned. However, subsequently the Book of Songs was nevertheless restored.
Poets of Ancient China
The most prominent Chinese poets lived and worked in the era of the Tang Dynasties (618-907 years BC), Song (960-1279 BC) and the Han (206 BC - 220 g) A.E.). The greatest of these are Su Shi, Li Bai and Du Fu.
In those days, any official in the public service was able to rhyme strings, but only the elite could write real poems from those that became great for all time. It did not happen that a peasant became a poet. Only in exceptional cases were poems written by those whose bureaucratic career did not work out.
Having been educated, the newly baked officials traveled to foreign lands to serve where they had no friends or relatives. It is no wonder that highly educated intellectuals with sensitive hearts undertook to compose verses.
Romance and Realism of the Tan Age
Chinese poets of the Tang era were distinguished by the simplicity of the syllable. Their romantic poems were mainly about the love and beauty of nature. Such was the work of the poet Li Bai (701-762), who wrote in the free style inherent in earlier times of Gu Shi. He traveled a lot, he lived in the north in Chan An, then in the southwest in Sichuan. Li Bai described the events and nature of the places he visited in his poems.
Doo fu
A follower of a completely different style of writing was another poet from the great Tan era - Du Fu (Zimei's middle name). He was born in Henan in 712. Grandfather Du Fu was a famous poet Du Shenyang. The first poem was written by him at the age of seven, and the level of the work was quite high.
In his youth, like many poets, he led a wild lifestyle and traveled a lot. Having matured, he moved to the capital, taking a low position at the palace. During the rebellion, he fled along with the retinue of the emperor, and when he returned after the suppression of the rebellion, he became close to the emperor. Subsequently, he was an adviser to the young ruler of Suzong.
However, in 759, Du Fu left the service and lived on the outskirts of Chengdu for 4 years alone. After he moved with his family to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The poet died in his boat, when he once again set sail on the Yangtze.
His poetic style of structured poetry (Lu Shi) was characterized by a realistic orientation and drama. Du Fu was an official and served in the capital of Chan An. He wrote about the severity and injustice of peasant life and the horrors of war. According to numerous contemporaries, Du Fu spent the last years of his life in a poor hut. At this time, he wrote the best poetic texts. More than 1,400 of his realistic works have survived to this day.
Bo Juiyi
Along with Du Fu, another Chinese poet, Bo Juyi, who lived in the Tang era, denounced injustice and described the suffering of peasants in his works. He was born in the city of Xinzheng in a noble and educated family, and lived in Shanxi, in Taiyuan. In his youth, the poet was a reformist activist who advocated for ordinary people.
The poet initiated the New Yuefu movement, believing that creativity is never divorced from reality, and poetry must reflect the realities of its era. Political setbacks led Bo Juiyi to drunkenness and ironic poems about wine.
His poetic texts are distinguished by the simplicity of the syllable to the extent that "even the old woman is able to understand." And his essays are sharp, ironic and concise. Po Jui's poetry had a significant impact on Chinese society. In addition, he was popular in Japan and other countries.
Bo Juyi was very close with his contemporary poet Yuan Zheng. In matters of the transformation of poetry, they were like-minded. Bo Juyi's famous essay, “A Letter to Yuan Chen,” was the impetus for the Movement for New Poetry.
Li Bo
Chinese poet Li Bo was the greatest writer of his time. His origin, namely the distant kinship with the imperial family, did not give him privileges. Li Bo was born in 701 in Sichuan into a poor family. As a developed child, he already at an early age tried to comment on the classics of Chinese literature. However, Confucianism aroused dislike in him and, retiring to the mountains, he studied Taoism from a hermit monk.
He did not ask for positions and traveled a lot. While traveling, he saved the life of the future first minister, Guo Tzu, and met the famous poet Du Fu, after which they became friends. Both sang their friendship in verse.
Li Bo was introduced to the court only in 742, when he was already a renowned poet. There he lounged, drank with friends and wrote poetry. For one such poem, dedicated to the emperor’s beloved concubine, he suffered as a result of palace intrigues, was expelled, and continued to study Taoism in Shandong.
After joining the disgraced Prince Yong, who wanted to take the place of the emperor, Li Bo was imprisoned and awaited execution. But he was saved by Minister Guo Tzu, who had not forgotten the services he had once rendered. Li Bo was sent to exile in Elan, where he traveled for three whole years, but only reached Wushan, since he was staying with friends for a long time, and there he found a general amnesty.
Li Bo died in Taiping in 761, being an old man, like a true poet. He tried to “hug the reflection of the moon in the waters of the Yangtze” and drowned. At the place of his death, a temple was erected.
The great Chinese poets, being officials themselves, blamed the misfortunes of ordinary people for selfish and careless colleagues through their works, exposing them to both the people and the ruler. For insolence and disagreement with the authorities, they were deprived of their posts and exiled away from the capital, where the rebellious poets continued to write their incriminating works.
Song Patriotic Poetry
The Xun state in the 12th century was attacked by the Jurchens, who came from the northeast, who captured the northern territories of the country. Against this background, patriotic poetry developed, describing pain for people and their country. After the suppression of China by the Mongols of the Yuan Dynasty, this poetic style flared up with renewed vigor. The most prominent representatives of the patriotic style were the famous Chinese poets Lu Yu and Xin Chiji.
The latter came from a military family and was brought up in a patriotic spirit and the desire for liberation from the Jurchen. Which he did when he grew up and led the resistance detachment in 1160, which was defeated a year later by the military of the Zin Dynasty. However, Xin Ziji was spotted in South Song, where he went to service. His works were distinguished by their patriotic orientation and criticism of the oppressors. Xin Ziji had the best poems about nature among Chinese poets, characterized by expressiveness of images. The warrior poet died on the way to the court of the emperor on March 10, 1207.
The Chinese poet Su Shi, nee Su Dongpo (1037-1101), is the greatest poet of the Northern Song era. More than 2000 of his works and now cause genuine interest and admiration. He was a court official in the Song Dynasty. After political upheaval, he was expelled and lived on a peasant farm, and it was then that he created poetic works of tremendous power.
Chinese poets of those times possessed unbending fortitude. They risked their lives, lost comfortable posts and died in distant exile for their beliefs and their poems.
Styles
Chinese poetry is distinguished by its genre diversity and unusual styles. For example, in the Han Dynasty , rhymed prose “fu” was popular, which, in turn, was divided into “xiao fu” and “da fu”. Lyric poems by Chinese poets about love, nature and feelings were written in the Xiaofu style, while odes and hymns were written in Dafa.
The “shi” style of the Tang dynasty is couplets, and the Sung “tsu” in their structure resemble songs where the syllable models are chosen by the poet independently. Both Shi and Tz were actively used by Chinese poets. Moreover, the authors must adhere to strict rules of versification.
Famous Chinese poets, who wrote poems for folk songs, used the Ge style, where the structure of the works allows you to sing poetic texts.
The “qu” style was introduced by the Mongols; it is distinguished by the melodic structure and form. Opera or Mongolian music and songs were called Yuan Qu. Modern songs adhere to the Ku style, distinguished by freedom from various poetic forms.
Modern chinese poetry
Modern Chinese poets rarely follow the canons of classical versification. This is because classical norms are incompatible with the spoken language of China today.
Free verse is a new Chinese poetry, formed under the influence of European versification. Here are short Xiaoshi poems, and lyric-epic poems, popular in the 1930s, and philosophical short poems of love and landscape lyrics.
In the 1970s, there was an increase in the freedom of thought and themes of poetry with a transition from the glorification of historical events to the reassessment of historical events and a rethinking of society.
Currently, poetry has lost its popularity inherent in Ancient China, giving way to cinema, computer games and other modern realities.