An assemblage of delicate Chinese verse which delicately explore the worlds of love, nature, and meditation.

An assemblage of delicate Chinese verse which delicately explore the worlds of love, nature, and meditation. Love and the Turning Year includes a selection from the Yueh Fu—folk songs from the Six Dynasties Period (fourth-fifth centuries A.D.). Most of the songs are simple, erotic lyrics. Some are attributed to legendary courtesans, while others may have been sung at harvest festivals or marriage celebrations. In addition to the folk songs, Rexroth offers a wide sampling of Chinese verse: works by 60 different poets, from the third century to our own time. Rexroth always translated Chinese poetry—as he said—“solely to please myself.” And he created, with remarkable success, English versions which stand as poems in their own right.

A collection of Japanese poems accompanied by their English translations.

The lyrical world of Chinese poetry in faithful translations by Kenneth Rexroth.

"Nothing stands still in this poetry: the wind blows the trees, the lake water ripples and the ever-present road runs in and out of the hills."--American Poetry Review

Notes on the poets and poems are taken from Kenneth Rexroth's "One hundred poems from the Chinese" (New York : New Directions, 1971) and "Love and the turning year : one hundred more poems from the Chinese" (New York : New Directions, 1970)

"The poetry proves again that stereotypes mislead. Chinese verse is supposedly cool and distant, detached and dispassionate. The opposite seems true; poets are exalted or downcast, drunk with wine or, in the case of women, frankly sensuous....Nothing stands still in this poetry: the wind blows the trees, the lake water ripples and the ever-present road runs in and out of the hills." --America

First published in 1999. The subject of this book is the translation and appropriation of Chinese poetry by some English and American writers in the early decades of this century. The author explores the be concerned as much with English translation of Chinese poetry per se as with the relationship between this body of translation from the Chinese and the developing poetics and practices of what is usually referred to as "Imagism," as much with the question of historical influence or ascription as with certain interpretive and critical aspects of this correlative relationship. Focusing on the direct influence of Chinese poetry upon the theory and practice of Imagism, attributing to Imagist poets in general and Ezra Pound in particular the perception in Chinese poetry of the essential qualities and principles for rejuvenating English poetry in the early decades of the century.

Contains English translations of Chinese writings drawn from throughout a period of four hundred years, including poems, drama, fiction, songs, biographies, and early works of philosophy and history; arranged chronologically and by genre, with introductory quotes and comments.