The Selected Poems of T'ao Ch'ien

Short (91 pp.), elegant book from Copper Canyon Press, containing poems by classical Chinese poet T'ao Ch'ien, translated by David Hinton. T'ao Ch'ien lived in medieval China, and after a brief career in government service retired to his family farm in the boondocks. All the poems reflect on his experience of living in relative poverty in the country. He much preferred it to life as an official, with the help of quite a lot of wine. The poems are reflective, lyrical, highly attuned to the beauty of nature, and somewhat wistful. The book ends with several powerful funerary poems, seemingly prepared in anticipation of his own funeral. Tao's style is simple, concrete, and conversational. He is an engaging companion. The translations are likewise simple and direct. Hinton also provides helpful endnotes. T'ao Ch'ien is regarded as the first poet of the Chinese Rivers and Mountains School, and was an immense influence on subsequent Chinese poetry. I recommend this book unreservedly.

Translator David Hinton brings life, love, intelligence, and expertise to all of his translation of Chinese poets, including this excellent volume of poems by the great T'ao Ch'ien. I wore out the first copy I purchased, and therefore purchased this, my second copy. Great work, highly recommended.

These are some of the best poems I've ever read by any poet. Hinton also wrote an excellent intro, which itself was pretty poetic. Highly recommended, especially if you know something about the mindset of Taoism but not necessary to appreciate the work of one of China's great poets. Best when read slowly and savored.

If you are familiar with The Tao and enjoy poetry, this book is a must. I am only sorry I waited so long to buy it.Read these musings in the late evening, with a glass of your favorite wine, and without any electronic distractions. His words will touch your heart and transport you into his time and place.Thank you David Hinton!

This book is a Wonderful Gate opening into Tao Yuan-ming's Universe.Very useful notes at the end of the book.

i loved reading this poetry and i am enjoying re-reading it. i am sure they are something i will savor again and again. The poems are accessible and lyrical. These poems are about the poet's life as a farmer and some of his feelings about life in general--he was a Taoist. i think David Hinton did a great job of translating these poems.

Brilliant, wondrous material, translated as to be readable and utterly contemporary-seeming. This is the most exciting book of poetry I have found since Jane Hirschfield's INK DARK MOON translations of Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu. Essential stuff for any students of Taoism, contemplation, or hermetic existence. I will be rereading these poems as long as I remain alive.

These poems are wonderful, and the translator has done an excellent job of making the poet's voice immediate and universal. The message of these poems--how to live as an individual and a family in the midst of the pressing demands and distractions put on us by society-- is as relevant today as it was were 1700 years ago.

I initially bought this book of poems because I wanted to be challenged to think. It worked. I found that the words and the way that they were put together forced me to think deeply about the way in which we, I, express emotions. Freud said that words are just a code we use to describe emotions. I agree. I loved the book and its seemingly simple, gentle poems.

See my coments on David Hinton's translation of the great Tang poet Wang Wei. Very powerful indeed T'ao's 'Elegy for Myself' and 'Burial Songs' for his own death and burial.