Chinese poetry is a big subject. Chinese poetry, calligraphy and painting are linked as the “Three Perfections” (诗书画三绝).
Here are some of my attempts to translate Chinese poetry.
These websites give the original Chinese characters as well as translations:
- Chinese Poems -Traditional & Simplified Chinese characters, pinyin and translation. The FAQs offer an introduction to Chinese poetry.
- 10 well-known poems
- 300 Tang Poems – Traditional Chinese characters and translation (Downloadable file)
- 300 Tang poems website
- Characters and translations, plus information on translators of Chinese Poetry at the quirky Mountain Songs.
- Calligraphy poems recited.
- Learning Chinese with poetry
- Li Bai’s Leave Baidi City
Posdcasts & programmes:
- The Chinese Literature Podcast covers quite a few poems, some unusual or modern eg:
- Guan, Guan Goes the Osprey
- Su Dongpo part 1 & part 2
- Ouyang Xiu – Spring at the Jade Tower
- A very interesting discussion of translating 2 related poems – Water Dragon Chant by Zhang Jie and Su Dongpo – NB content warning.
- Bai Juyi Autumn Thoughts and Charcoal Seller
- The famous Seven Step Poem
- BBC China: As History Is My Witness : Du Fu and Li Bai
- BBC In Our Time Tang Poetry and The Story of China essay on Du Fu and his poetry
Translations:
- Like Water or Clouds (downloadable) translated by AS Kline
- Translator David Hinton – Includes Tang greats Li Po, Du Fu and Wang Wei. (Uses Wade-Giles romanisation).
- Translator Red Pine covers poetry – including the collected songs of Tang poet Cold Mountain, hermit traditions, sutras and other texts. There are several on line video interviews and readings.
And thoughts on translating:
- https://www.lareviewofbooks.
org/article/good-way- translate-chinese-poetry/ - https://www.jstor.org/stable/
j.ctvs32rh7
Books about Chinese Poetry:
Famous Chinese Song dynasty poetess Li Qingzhao