In traditional Chinese culture, the written word, along with the appreciation of it, was prized with an almost religious reverence. Within this world, poetry held a special place that was unrivaled by any other single art, ability, or practical accomplishment and poetic talent was a source of prestige and affluence and even of political power.
In this rich, comprehensive collection of Chinese poetry, J. P. Seaton, the preeminent American translator and scholar of Chinese literature, introduces the reader to the main styles of Chinese poetry and the major poets, from the classic Shih Ching (The Book of Songs), which dates from 1766 B.C.E. all the way through to the twentieth century. Seaton has a poet's ear, his translations here are fresh and vivid, and his commentaries on the poems illuminate their historical and stylistic significance.
"Mindful of Robert Frost's famous maxim, 'Poetry is what is lost in translation,' Seaton yet risks the loss for the sake of opening doors otherwise closed to readers lacking Chinese. . . . The essays as well as the translations make the book a fine gateway to China's long poetic tradition."—Booklist
"Jerome Seaton is the finest living translator and explicator of Chinese poetry; beyond a genius for interpretation and impeccable scholarship. Seaton has that quality that can magically transcend intuition and learning: he is a poet."—Carolyn Kizer, author of Cool, Calm, and Collected: Poems 1960–2000
"Luckily for his readers, J. P. Seaton is also a considerable poet who wears his erudition lightly in his lively commentary to this great sweep of Chinese poetry."—John Balaban, translator, Spring Essence: The Poetry of Ho Xuan Huong
"J. P. Seaton's luminous translations are accurate in presenting the meaning and order of words and images from the original while revealing the true spirit of these poets."—Sam Hamill, author of Almost Paradise: New and Selected Poems and Translations
"This anthology, with its inviting introduction, represents the lifework of the translator and a heritage of scholarship. It is a great gift to the language and poetry of our time."—W. S. Merwin, author of Migration: New and Selected Poems
In traditional Chinese culture, the written word, along with the appreciation of it, was prized with an almost religious reverence. Within this world, poetry held a special place that was unrivaled by any other single art, ability, or practical accomplishment and poetic talent was a source of prestige and affluence and even of political power.
In this rich, comprehensive collection of Chinese poetry, J. P. Seaton, the preeminent American translator and scholar of Chinese literature, introduces the reader to the main styles of Chinese poetry and the major poets, from the classic Shih Ching (The Book of Songs), which dates from 1766 B.C.E. all the way through to the twentieth century. Seaton has a poet's ear, his translations here are fresh and vivid, and his commentaries on the poems illuminate their historical and stylistic significance.
Praise
"Mindful of Robert Frost's famous maxim, 'Poetry is what is lost in translation,' Seaton yet risks the loss for the sake of opening doors otherwise closed to readers lacking Chinese. . . . The essays as well as the translations make the book a fine gateway to China's long poetic tradition."—Booklist
"Jerome Seaton is the finest living translator and explicator of Chinese poetry; beyond a genius for interpretation and impeccable scholarship. Seaton has that quality that can magically transcend intuition and learning: he is a poet."—Carolyn Kizer, author of Cool, Calm, and Collected: Poems 1960–2000
"Luckily for his readers, J. P. Seaton is also a considerable poet who wears his erudition lightly in his lively commentary to this great sweep of Chinese poetry."—John Balaban, translator, Spring Essence: The Poetry of Ho Xuan Huong
"J. P. Seaton's luminous translations are accurate in presenting the meaning and order of words and images from the original while revealing the true spirit of these poets."—Sam Hamill, author of Almost Paradise: New and Selected Poems and Translations
"This anthology, with its inviting introduction, represents the lifework of the translator and a heritage of scholarship. It is a great gift to the language and poetry of our time."—W. S. Merwin, author of Migration: New and Selected Poems
