A Little Primer of Tu Fu
A Little Primer of Tu Fu
By David Hawkes
1987; 1994; 2001
xii + 243 pages
ISBN 962-7255-02-5
This standard introduction to the poetry of Tu Fu was originally published by Oxford University Press, but has long been out of print.
Tu Fu 杜甫 (712–770) is regarded by many Chinese as their country’s greatest poet. The 35 poems included in this volume, taken from the well-known anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems, are accompanied by a detailed and lively explication of the poetic form, historical background and meaning of each poem. As well as being an excellent introduction to the poetry of Tu Fu, this book also offers valuable information on Chinese poetry and the Chinese language in general.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTION — ix
1. On a Prospect of T’ai-shan (Wàng yuè) — 1
2. Ballad of the Army Carts (Bīng-chē xíng) — 5
3. Ballad of Lovely Women (Lì-rén xíng) — 18
4. Moonlit Night (Yuè-yè) — 28
5. The Unfortunate Prince (Āi wáng-sūn) — 33
6. Spring Scene (Chūn wàng) — 45
7. By the Lake (Āi jiāng-tóu) — 49
8. Spring Night in the Imperial Chancellery (Chūn sù zuǒ-shěng) — 56
9. Sad Memories (Zhì-dé èr-zǎi … yǒu bēi wǎng-shì) — 60
10. To the Recluse Wei Pa (Zèng Wèi Bā chǔ-shì) — 66
11. Thinking of My Brothers on a Moonlit Night (Yuè-yè yì shè-dì) — 73
12. A Fine Lady (Jiā-rén) — 78
13. Dreaming of Li Po (1) (Mèng Lǐ Bó) — 87
14. Dreaming of Li Po (2) (Mèng Lǐ Bó) — 93
15. Thoughts of Li Po from the World’s End (Tiān-mò huái Lǐ Bó) — 99
16. The Chancellor of Shu (Shǔ xiàng) — 103
17. The Guest (Kè zhì) — 109
18. A Second Farewell at the Feng-chi Post-station to His Grace the Duke of Cheng (Fèng-jì yì chóng sòng Yán gōng sì yùn) — 113
19. On Learning of the Recovery of Honan and Hopei by the Imperial Army (Wén guān-jūn shōu Hé-nán Hé-běi) — 117
20. Leave-taking at the Grave of Grand Marshal Fang (Bié Fáng-tài-wèi mù) — 121
21. On the Tower (Dēng lóu) — 125
22. A Night at Headquarters (Sù fǔ) — 129
23. A Song of Painting. To General Ts’ao Pa (Dān-qīng yǐn—Zèng Cáo jiāng-jūn Bà) — 133
24. On Seeing a Horse-painting by Ts’ao Pa in the House of the Recorder Wei Feng (Wèi Fèng lù-shì zhái guān Cáo jiāng-jūn huà mǎ-tú) — 145
25. Ballad of the Old Cypress (Gǔ bó xíng) — 156
26. For the Admonisher, Han Chu (Jì Hán jiàn-yì Zhù) — 165
27. Thoughts on an Ancient Site (1) (Yǒng huái gǔ-jì) — 174
28. Thoughts on an Ancient Site (2) (Yǒng huái gǔ-jì) — 178
29. Night at West House (Gé yè) — 181
30. The Eight Formations (Bā zhèn tú) — 185
31. On Seeing a Pupil of Kung-sun Dance the Chien-ch’i.—A Ballad (Guān Gōng-sūn dà-niáng dì-zǐ wǔ jiàn-qì xíng) — 188
32. Thoughts Written While Travelling at Night (Lǚ yè shū huái) — 200
33. From a Height (Dēng gāo) — 203
34. On Yo-yang Tower (Dēng Yuē-yáng lóu) — 206
35. On Meeting Li Kuei-nien in the South (Jiāng-nán féng Lǐ Guī-nián) — 210
VOCABULARY — 213
INDEX — 239
-
AUTHOR(s)
David Hawkes (1923–2009) was until 1971 Professor of Chinese at Oxford University. He is the translator of The Songs of the South and The Story of the Stone. He lived in retirement in Wales.