Review (PDF) The New Directions Anthology Of Classical Chinese Poetry
A groundbreaking anthology of classical Chinese translations by giants of Modern American poetry. A rich compendium of translations, The New Directions Anthology of Classical Chinese Poetry is the first collection to look at Chinese poetry through its enormous influence on American poetry. Weinberger begins with Ezra Pound's Cathay (1915), and includes translations by three other major U.S. poets—William Carlos Williams, Kenneth Rexroth, Gary Snyder—and an important poet-translator-scholar, David Hinton, all of whom have long been associated with New Directions. Moreover, it is the first general anthology ever to consider the process of translation by presenting different versions of the same poem by various translators, as well as examples of the translators rewriting themselves. The collection, at once playful and instructive, serves as an excellent introduction to the art and tradition of Chinese poetry, gathering some 250 poems by nearly 40 poets. The anthology also includes previously uncollected translations by Pound; a selection of essays on Chinese poetry by all five translators, some never published before in book form; Lu Chi's famous "Rhymeprose on Literature" translated by Achilles Fang; biographical notes that are a collage of poems and comments by both the American translators and the Chinese poets themselves; and also Weinberger's excellent introduction that historically contextualizes the influence Chinese poetry has had on the work of American poets.
Series: New Directions Paperbook
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation (October 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0811216055
ISBN-13: 978-0811216050
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #711,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #73 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > Asian > Chinese #181 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Asian > Chinese #425 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Regional & Cultural > Asian
The rediscovery of Greek and Roman literature kickstarted the Renaissance in Europe. In a similar way, though on a somewhat smaller scale, the conveniently Imagist makeover of Chinese poetry by Ezra Pound and Amy Lowell undoubtedly had a seismic and far-reaching effect on later 20th century American poetry. In his learned Introduction to this outstanding and indispensable Anthology, Weinberger traces the many subsequent debts owed by a galaxy of fine American poets to that seminal work of re-invention. Such impressively talented scholar-translators as Burton Watson, J. P Seaton, Jonathan Chaves and several others receive an honourable mention, though their work is well anthologised elsewhere, and Weinberger's brief seems to have been only to include full-time poets: with the possible exception of Hinton, that is. (However, Sam Hamill's, Arthur Sze's and David Young's names have inexplicably been left out: all three of them marvellous contemporary re-interpreters of the classical Chinese tradition, and all three fine poets in their own right.)Weinberger concentrates in particular on five exemplary writers: Ezra Pound himself, William Carlos Williams, Kenneth Rexroth, Gary Snyder, and David Hinton. They are certainly all major figures, and it's useful to have them grouped together in this way (particular since the last of them diverges in such interesting ways from the Imagist 'Less is More' tradition: though he certainly 'makes it new' in accordance with that central dictum, which is even quoted in the original Chinese characters both on the cover and on the titlepage).
This is a superb anthology several times over. First and foremost, it brings together in one book several centuries of the finest classical poetry from China, starting at the beginning with selections from "The Book of Odes" and drawing a finish line at the end of the Sung Dynasty in 1279. Pretty much all the major poets from the T'ang and Sung are represented here along with earlier masters like T'ao Ch'ien and many interesting lesser-known figures throughout. And in line with New Directions' general attitude that poems should sound like poems, the translations here all flow musically and ring harmoniously in the mind's ear.Still, there are many other excellent anthologies of Chinese poetry as well. What really distinguishes this one is that all five of the translators are accomplished American poets in their own right. Here we find the eccentric, wildly inaccurate and yet sometimes intuitively ingenious renderings by Ezra Pound, the tersely colloquial if likewise linguistically careless versions by William Carlos Williams, the sensitive and quietly subtle though pretty much reliable verses by Kenneth Rexroth, the deeply spiritual explorations of nature with a counter-cultural edge by Gary Snyder, and finally the translations of David Hinton which alchemically combine poetic sensibility and academic acumen in a proper balance. All in one anthology.Much more than a mere continuum of accuracy (from less to more) is to be found here, though.
The New Directions Anthology of Classical Chinese Poetry Classical Chinese Poetry: An Anthology Chinese Cookbook - 25 Delicious Chinese Recipes to Chinese Food Made Easy: Recipes from Chinese Restaurants New Directions in American Political Parties (New Directions in American Politics) HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR. Kids Coloring Book.: Children Activity Books with 30 Coloring Pages of Chinese Dragons, Red Lanterns, Fireworks, Firecrackers, ... 3-8 to Celebrate Their Fun Chinese New Year! Rumi Poetry: 101 Quotes Of Wisdom On Life, Love And Happiness (Sufi Poetry, Rumi Poetry, Inspirational Quotes, Sufism) Exalted Terrestrial Directions 2 The West (Compass of Terrestrial Directions) (vol. 2) How To Read A Chinese Poem: A Bilingual Anthology of Tang Poetry How to Read Chinese Poetry: A Guided Anthology Derangements of My Contemporaries: Miscellaneous Notes (New Directions Poetry Pamphlets) Chinese Hot Pot Cookbook - Your Favorite Chinese Hot Pot Recipe Book: No Other Chinese Cookbook Can Compare 49 Awesome Chinese Recipes (The Ultimate Chinese Cookbook That Brings an Entire American Chinese Buffet to Your Dinner Table) Chinese Recipes. Delicious Chinese Recipes For All The Family: Easy & Tasty Chinese Cookbook The Chinese Cookbook: 50 Great Recipes from the Chinese Kitchen (Chinese Cooking) Chinese Cooking: No Wok Takeout! 80 Amazingly Delicious 3 Steps Or Less Chinese Recipes Revealed (Chinese Cookbook, Cooking For One) (cookbook for beginners, ... meals cookbook, easy meals for one 2) Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (Simplified and Traditional Character) Character Workbook (Cheng & Tsui Chinese Language Series) (Chinese Edition) Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 Workbook (Traditional Character, 3rd Edition) (Cheng & Tsui Chinese Language Series) (Chinese Edition) One Hundred Poems from the Chinese (New Directions Books) Dragon Dance: a Chinese New Year LTF: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book (Lift-the-Flap, Puffin) The New Anthology of American Poetry, Vol. 2: Modernisms, 1900-1950
