Three Hundred Tang Poems Explained

Three Hundred Tang Poems
S:	唐诗三百首
T:	唐詩三百首
P:	Tángshī sānbǎi shǒu
W:	T'ang-shih san-pai-shou
Myr:	Tángshr̄ sānbái shǒu
J:	Tong4 si1 saam1 baak3 sau2
Ci:	pronounced as /tʰɔ̏ːŋɕíː sáːmpāːk sɐ̌u/
Y:	Tòhngsī sāambaak sáu
Poj:	Tông-si saⁿ-pah-chhiú

The Three Hundred Tang Poems is an anthology of poems from the Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907). It was first compiled around 1763 by Sun Zhu (1722–1778^[1]), who was a Qing Dynasty scholar and was also known as Hengtang Tuishi (Chinese: 蘅塘退士, "Retired Master of Hengtang"). Various later editions also exist. All editions contain slightly more than 300 total poems.^[2] The number 300 (or more exactly 305) was a classic number for a poetry collection due to the influence of the Classic of Poetry (Chinese: 詩經, Shijing), which was generally known as The Three Hundred Poems.^[1]

Dissatisfied with the anthology Poems by a Thousand Masters (Chinese: 千家詩, Qianjiashi) compiled by Liu Kezhuang in the late Southern Song, and influenced by Ming Dynasty poetry anthologies, Sun selected the poems based on their popularity and educational value. The collection has been popular ever since and can be found in many Chinese households. For centuries, elementary students memorized the poems and used them to learn to read and write. It contains poems by Du Fu, Li Bai, Wang Wei, Chen Zi'ang, Meng Haoran, Han Yu, Du Mu, Bai Juyi, Liu Changqing, Cen Shen, Wang Changling, Wei Yingwu, and more.^{[3] [4]}

Organization of poems

See main article: Classical Chinese poetry forms.

The original Qing Dynasty version of the 300 Tang Poems was organized by the poem's formal type, of which there were seven:

• Folk song styled verse (yuefu)
• Ancient verse (gushi):
  • Five-character ancient verse
  • Seven-character ancient verse
• Modern style verse (jintishi):
  • Eight-line regulated verse (lüshi):
    • Five-character regular verse
    • Seven-character regular verse
  • Quatrain (jueju):
    • Five-character quatrain
    • Seven-character quatrain

Out of 317 poems in one edition, 90 were in the gushi form and 227 were in the lüshi or the jueju forms.^[5]

Poets

The poets of the Tang shi include a number of authors ranging from the well-known and famous to obscure or anonymous poets, and even include at least one emperor. The poet with the most pieces included in this collection is Du Fu, with thirty-nine. Li Bai is a close runner-up, with thirty-four. Wang Wei has twenty-nine poems included in the anthology and Li Shangyin has twenty-four. Meng Haoran has fifteen, Wei Yingwu twelve, Liu Changqing eleven, and Du Mu ten. After that, each of the other poets' included pieces number in the single digits; however, some of these poets are quite important, such as Liu Zongyuan or Bai Juyi. Some important poets, such as Li He, are not represented at all.

Name				Wade-Giles^[6]	Dates^[7]	Number of included pieces^[8]
	白居易	白居易	Bái Jūyì	Po Chü-i	772–846	6
Cao Song	曹松	曹松	Cáo Sōng	Ts'ao Song	830-903	1
	岑參	岑参	Cén Shēn	Ts'en Shen	715–770	7
	常建	常建	Cháng Jiàn	Ch'ang Chien	708–765?	2
	陳陶	陈陶	Chén Táo	Ch'en T'ao	824–882	1
	陳子昂	陈子昂	Chén Zǐáng	Ch'en Tzǔ-ang	661?–702	1
Cui Daorong	崔道融	崔道融	Cuī Dào Róng	Ts'ui Tao-jong	880-907	3
Cui Hao	崔顥	崔颢	Cuī Hào	Ts'ui Hao	704?–754	4
Cui Hu	崔護	崔护	Cuī Hù	Ts'ui Hu	772-846	1
Cui Shu	崔曙	崔曙	Cuī Shǔ	Ts'ui Shu	704–739	1
Cui Tu	崔塗	崔涂	Cuī Tú	Ts'ui T'u	854–?	2
Dai Shulun	戴叔倫	戴叔伦	Dài Shūlún	Tai Shu-lun	732–789	1
Du Fu	杜甫	杜甫	Dù Fǔ	Tu Fu	712–770	39
Du Mu	杜牧	杜牧	Dù Mù	Tu Mu	803–852	10
Du Qiuniang (Lady Du Qiu)	杜秋娘	杜秋娘	Dù Qiūniáng	Tu Ch'iu-niang	?–825?	1
Du Shenyan	杜審言	杜审言	Dù Shěnyán	Tu Shen-yen	646–708?	1
Du Xunhe	杜荀鶴	杜荀鹤	Dù Xúnhè	Tu Hsün-hê	846–904	1
Gao Pian	高駢	高骈	Gāo Pián	Kao Pian	821-887	1
Gao Shi	高適	高适	Gāo Shì	Kao Shi	716?–765	2
Gu Kuang	顧況	顾况	Gù Kuàng	Ku K'uang	725—814	1
Han Hong	韓翃	韩翃	Hán Hóng	Han Hung	754?-784?	3
Han Wo	韓偓	韩偓	Hán Wò	Han Wo	844–923	1
Han Yu	韓愈	韩愈	Hán Yù	Han Yü	768–824	4
He Zhizhang	賀知章	贺知章	Hè Zhīzhāng	He Chih-chang	659?–744	1
Hu Lingneng	胡令能	胡令能	Hú Lìngnéng	Hu Ling-Neng	785-826	1
Huangfu Ran	皇甫冉	皇甫冉	Huángfǔ Rǎn	Huang-fu Jan	716–769	1
Jia Dao	賈島	贾岛	Jiǎ Dǎo	Chia Tao	779–843	1
	皎然	皎然	Jiǎorán	Chiao-jan	730–799	1
Jin Changxu	金昌緒	金昌绪	Jīn Chāngxù	Chin Ch'ang-hsü	?	1
Li Bai (Li Po)	李白	李白	Lǐ Bái (Lǐ Bó)	Li Pai (Li Po)	701–762	34
Li Duan	李端	李端	Lǐ Duān	Li Tuan	743–782	1
Li He	李賀	李贺	Lǐ Hè	Li He	790-816	2
Li Pin	李頻	李频	Lǐ Pín	Li P'in	818–876	1
Li Qi	李頎	李颀	Lǐ Qí	Li Ch'i	690–751	7
Li Qiao	李峤	李嶠	Lǐ Qiào	Li Ch'iao	645-714	2
	李商隱	李商隐	Lǐ Shāngyǐn	Li Shang-yin	813?–858?	24
	李紳	李绅	Lǐ Shēn	Li Shen	772-846	1
	李益	李益	Lǐ Yì	Li I	748?–827?	3
Liu Changqing	劉長卿	刘长卿	Liú Chángqīng	Liu Chang-ch'ing	710?–789?	11
Liu Fangping	劉方平	刘方平	Liú Fāngping	Liu Fang-p'ing	mid 8th century	2
Liu Shenxu	劉眘虛	刘眘虚	Liú Shènxū	Liu Shen-hsü	early 8th century	1
Liu Yuxi	劉禹錫	刘禹锡	Liú Yǔxī	Liu Yü-hsi	772–842	4
Liu Zhongyong	柳中庸	柳中庸	Liǔ Zhōngyōng	Liu Chung-yung	?–775?	1
Liu Zongyuan	柳宗元	柳宗元	Liǔ Zōngyuán	Liu Tsung-yüan	773–819	5
Lu Lun	盧綸	卢纶	Lú Lún	Lu Lun	739–799	6
Lu Guimeng	陸龜蒙	陆龟蒙	Lù Guīméng	Lu Kui-meng	?-881	1
Luo Binwang	駱賓王	骆宾王	Luò Bīnwáng	Lo Pin-wang	640?–684?	1
Luo Yin	羅隱	罗隐	Luó Yǐn	Lo Yin	833-910	2
Ma Dai	馬戴	马戴	Mǎ Dài	Ma Tai	799–869	2
Meng Haoran	孟浩然	孟浩然	Mèng Hàorán	Meng Hao-jan	689?–740	15
Meng Jiao	孟郊	孟郊	Mèng Jiāo	Meng Chiao	751–814	2
Nie Yizhong	聶夷中	聂夷中	Niè Yízhōng	Nie YiChong	837-884	1
Pei Di	裴迪	裴迪	Péi Dí	Pei Ti	716?–?	1
Qian Qi	錢起	钱起	Qián Qǐ	Ch'ien Ch'i	722?–780?	3
Qin Taoyu	秦韜玉	秦韬玉	Qín Tāoyù	Ch'in T'ao-yü	late 9th century	1
Qiu Wei	邱為	邱为	Qiū Wéi	Ch'iu Wei	694–789?	1
Qiwu Qian	綦毋潛	綦毋潜	Qíwú Qián	Ch'i-wu Ch'ien	692?–755?	1
Quan Deyu	權德輿	权德舆	Quán Déyú	Ch'uan Tê-yu	759–818	1
Rong Yu	戎昱	戎昱	Róng Yù	Jong Yu	740-800	2
Shen Quanqi	沈佺期	沈佺期	Shěn Quánqī	Shên Ch'üan-ch'i	650?–713?	2
Shi Jianwu	施肩吾	施肩吾	Shī Jiānwú	Shi Chuan'wu	780-861	1
Sikong Shu	司空曙	司空曙	Sī Kōngshǔ	Ssû-k'ung Shu	720?–790?	3
Song Zhiwen	宋之問	宋之问	Sòng Zhīwèn	Sung Chih-wên	656?–712?	1
	唐玄宗	唐玄宗	Táng Xuánzōng	T'ang Hsüan-tsung	685–762	1
Wang Bo	王勃	王勃	Wáng Bó	Wang Po	649?–676	1
Wang Changling	王昌齡	王昌龄	Wáng Chānglíng	Wang Ch'ang-ling	698–756	8
Wang Han	王翰	王翰	Wáng Hàn	Wang Han	687-726	1
Wang Jia	王駕	王驾	Wáng Jià	Wang Chia	851-?	2
Wang Jian	王建	王建	Wáng Jiàn	Wang Chien	?–830?	1
Wang Wan	王灣	王灣	Wáng Wān	Wang Wan	693–751	1
Wang Wei	王維	王维	Wáng Wéi	Wang Wei	699–759	29
Wang Ya	王涯	王涯	Wáng Yá	Wang Ya	？-835	1
Wang Zhihuan	王之渙	王之涣	Wáng Zhīhuàn	Wang Tsu-huan	688–742	2
Wei Yingwu	韋應物	韦应物	Wéi Yìngwù	Wei Ying-wu	737–792	12
Wei Zhuang	韋莊	韦庄	Wéi Zhuāng	Wei Chuang	836–910	2
Wen Tingyun	溫庭筠	温庭筠	Wēn Tíngyún	Wen T'ing-yun	812–870	4
Wu Mingshi (Anonymous)	無名氏	无名氏	Wúmíngshì	Wu-ming-shih	?	1
Xi Biren (Anonymous)^[9]	西鄙人	西鄙人	Xī Bǐrén	Hsi-pi Jen	?	1
Xu Hun	許渾	许浑	Xǔ Hún	Hsü Hun	791–858	2
Xue Feng	薛逢	薛逢	Xuē Féng	Hsueh Feng	mid 9th century	1
Yu Hu	於鵠	于鹄	Yú Hú	Yü Hu	?-814?	3
Yu Shinan	虞世南	虞世南	Yù Shìnán	Yü Shi-Nan	558-638	2
Yuan Jie	元結	元结	Yuán Jiē	Yüan Chieh	723–772	2
Yuan Zhen	元稹	元稹	Yuán Zhěn	Yüan Chen	779–831	4
Zhang Hu	張祜	张祜	Zhāng Hù	Chang Hu	785^[10] –849?	5
Zhang Ji from Hubei	張繼	张继	Zhāng Jì	Chang Chi	715?–779?	1
Zhang Ji from Jiangnan	張籍	张籍	Zhāng Jí	Chang Chi	766–830?	1
Zhang Jiuling	張九齡	张九龄	Zhāng Jiǔlíng	Chang Chiu-ling	678?–740	5
Zhang Bi	張泌	张泌	Zhāng Bì	Chang Mi	late 9th century	1
Zhang Qiao	張喬	张喬	Zhāng Qiáo	Chang Ch'iao	?	1
Zhang Xu	張旭	张旭	Zhāng Xù	Chang Hsü	658?–747?	1
Zhang Yue	張說	张说	Zhāng Yuè	Chang Yüe	667-731	1
Zhang Zhihe	張志和	张志和	Zhāng Zhìhé	Chang Chi'he	732-774	1
Zhang Zhongsu	張仲素	张仲素	Zhāng Zhōngsù	Chang Chong'su	769-819	2
Zheng Gu	鄭谷	郑谷	Zhèng Gǔ	Cheng Hu	849-911	1
Zheng Tian	鄭畋	郑畋	Zhèng Tián	Cheng T'ien	824?–882?	1
Zhu Qingyu	朱慶餘	朱庆余	Zhū Qìngyú	Chu Ch'ing-yü	early 9th century	2
Zu Yong	祖詠	祖咏	Zǔ Yǒng	Tsu Yung	699–746?	2

Translations

The first complete translation of the Three Hundred Tang Poems into English was published as The Jade Mountain, translated by Witter Bynner and Jiang Kanghu. From 1929 through 1972 it went through ten editions.^[3] A new translation of the anthology by Peter Harris was published in 2009.^[11]

See also

• Classical Chinese poetry
• Gao Bing
• List of poems in Chinese or by Chinese poets
• Tang poetry
• Qing poetry
• Complete Tang Poems
• Sun Zhu

Sources

• Wu, John C. H. (1972). The Four Seasons of Tang Poetry. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle.
• Watson, Burton (1971). CHINESE LYRICISM: Shih Poetry from the Second to the Twelfth Century. (New York: Columbia University Press).
• Rexroth, Kenneth (1970). Love and the Turning Year: One Hundred More Poems from the Chinese. New York: New Directions.
• Yu, Pauline (2002). "Chinese Poetry and Its Institutions", in Hsiang Lectures on Chinese Poetry, Volume 2, Grace S. Fong, editor. Montreal: Center for East Asian Research, McGill University.

External links

• www.zhongwen.com
• 300 Tang Poems at the University of Virginia Library

Notes and References

1. Yu, 64–65
2. Rexroth, xvi
3. Web site: Home of 300 Tang Poems . 2007-09-12 . Weichang Chan . . 1997 . Chinese Text Initiative . . zh, en . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070925175720/http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/chinese/frame.htm . 2007-09-25 .
4. Web site: Tang Shi – 300 Tang poems . 2007-09-12 . Wengu – Chinese Classics and Translations . AFPC . zh, en, fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005506/http://afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Tangshi . 2007-09-27 .
5. Watson 127
6. Lacking tone marks, and may be modified Wade-Giles.
7. Birth, death, flourishing, or other as available. All dates Common Era.
8. From standard edition(s).
9. Xi Biren is an alias meaning "humble person from the west border". The author is unknown (cf. Web site: China Tang poetry Tang Poems, Kanshi, 唐詩英訳 漢詩 英译唐诗 英译唐诗雙語 唐诗英译 唐诗英译雙語, 英譯唐詩 唐詩英譯雙語 唐詩英訳 Tang Poems, English translation, bilingual 如何在美国亞瑪遜/美亞 買书? 唐诗三百首中的精华者 - 25首, 中英双语对照, 附历史背景, 诗歌轶事, 诗人小传. How to purchase books at US amazon.com? Tang Poems, the most popular Chinese poems in Tang dynasty. China poems - Tang poems China history - Tang dynasty history - embedded in Tang poems. 唐時代に最も人気のある中国の詩である唐詩は、 Tang-Gedichte, die beliebtesten chinesischen Gedichte in der Tang-Dynastie. Les poèmes Tang, les plus populaires des poèmes chinois de la dynastie Tang. Poesie Tang, le poesie cinesi più popolari nella dinastia Tang. 당나라시에서 가장 인기있는 중국 시인시. Tang thơ, những bài thơ nổi tiếng nhất của Trung Quốc trong triều đại nhà Đường. . Message #1 . 2016-01-01 . la . 2023-06-27. "The Beauty of Tang Poems and Zhuan Zi Calligraphy", "Xi Bi'ren", by Marie L. Sun and Alex K. Sun)
10. Web site: Three Hundred Tang Poems. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161106184914/knopfdoubleday.com/book/75991/three-hundred-tang-poems/. 2016-11-06.
11. Book: 978-0307269737. Three Hundred Tang Poems. Harris. Peter. 2009.