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Tang Literature and Art

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Big Buddha Caves, 116 caves, 1500 statues The largest Seated Buddha, 20 meters, AD 628, Bingxian, Shanxi

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Standing Guanyin, 17.5 meters, Taizong’s reign Portion of the Thousand-buddha Shrine, Gaozong’s reign

Tang Poetry (II): 

Tang Poetry (II) Han Yu (768-824) Bai Juyi (Po Chu-I, 772-846) Han-shan (8th centry) Liu Zongyuan (Liu Tsung-yuan, 773-819) Li He (Li Ho, 791-817) Jia Dao (Chia Tao,779-843) Du Mu (Tu Mu, 803-853) Li Shangyin (Li Shang-yin, 813?-858)

Han Yu (768-824): 

Han Yu (768-824) A Jinshi degree holder; best known as a leader of the ancient style prose (guwen; ku-wen) movement Poems stress the freedom of form, expression, and subject matter; often use archaic and philosophical language Famous poems are those expressing anti-Buddhist sentiment “The Girl of Mt. Hua,” “Written on My Way into Exile….”

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Buddha’s finger bone relic, unearthed 1987, Famen Temple, Shanxi

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“Written on My Way into Exile” by Han Yu, trans. Burton Watson Once document at dawn, submitted to the nine-tiered palace; By evening, banished to Chaozhou eight thousand li away. For the sake of our holy ruler I longed to drive away the evil; What thought for this old body, for the few years remaining? Clouds blanket the Qin Range—which way is home? Snow blocks the Lan Pass—my horse will not go on. You must have some purpose, coming so far with me; Be kind and gather up my bones from the shores of the fetid river.  

Bai Juyi (772-846) : 

Bai Juyi (772-846) A jinshi degree holder; at times held high office in Chang’an and Loyang; a devout Buddhist Most prolific Tang poet; excelled in the long narrative New Yuefu (Yueh-fu) Style “Song of Everlasting Regret” “Song of the Lute” Poems characterized by simplicity and facileness in diction, popular with even old country folks and women

Idle Droning (by Bai Juyi): 

Idle Droning (by Bai Juyi) Since earnestly studying the Buddhist doctrine of emptiness I’ve learned to still all the common states of mind Only the devil of poetry I have yet to conquer— Let me come on a bit of scenery and I start my idle droning

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Emperor Xuangzong

Hanshan (Cold Mountain): 

Hanshan (Cold Mountain) Representative of eccentric Scholar-Monks in Tang times Not a major poet in Tang China, but became favorite figure in Chinese and Japanese Buddhist art Popular during the 60s in the US after Zen/Chan Buddhism was introduced to American intellectuals Poems convey the idea that the very experiences of daily life are what make enlightenment attainable

Untitled, #6 (by Hanshan): 

Untitled, #6 (by Hanshan) I think of all the places I’ve been, Chasing from one famous spot to another. Delighting in mountains, I scaled the mile-high peaks; Loving the water, I sailed a thousand rivers. I held farewell parties with my friends in Lute Valley, Brought my zither and played on Parrot Shoals Who would guess I’d end up under a pine tree, Clasping my knees in the whispering cold?

Untitled, #2 by Hanshan: 

Untitled, #2 by Hanshan In the house east of here lives an old woman. Three or four years ago, she got rich. In the old days she was poorer than I; Now she laughs at me for not having a penny. She laughs at me for being poor now I laugh at her for having been poor before* We laugh as though we’d never stop She from the east and I from the west!

Liu Zongyuan (Liu Tsung-yuan, 773-819): 

Liu Zongyuan (Liu Tsung-yuan, 773-819) A jinshi degree holder; also a master of the Ancient Style Prose Poems characterized by his sensitiveness to the tranquility of nature Better known as a prose writer and an active patron of Buddhism Most famous piece: “River Snow”

River Snow by Liu Zongyuan: 

River Snow by Liu Zongyuan From a thousand hills, bird flights have vanished; On ten thousand paths, human traces wiped out; Lone boat, an old man in straw cape and hat, Finishing alone in the cold river snow.

Jia Dao (Chia Tao, 779-843): 

Jia Dao (Chia Tao, 779-843) A Buddhist monk in his early age; gave up monkhood to make several attempts at the civil service examinations but failed them all; became a member of Han Yu’s circle Continued to live a life of constant frustration and misfortune Most poems written in response to Buddhist monks and Taoist priests Most famous piece: “Looking for a Recluse” The birds nest in the lake-side tree/A monk knock on a moon-lit door

Looking for a Recluse by Jia Dao : 

Looking for a Recluse by Jia Dao Under the pines I questioned the boy. “My master’s off gathering herbs. All I know is he’s here on the mountain— Amidst deep clouds not to be found.”

Du Mu (Tu Mu, 803-853): 

Du Mu (Tu Mu, 803-853) A jinshi degree holder Most admired as a master of the New Style quatrain Poems demonstrate his acutely sensual delight in wine, women, spring landscapes, and brilliant colors of birds and flowers; full of joys than regrets Most famous piece “Sent in Parting”

Sent in Parting by Du Mu: 

Sent in Parting by Du Mu Great love may seem like none at all: Wine before us, we only know that smiles won’t come The tallow candle has a heart—it grieves at parting In our place drips tears until the break of day

Li Shangyin (Li Shang-yin, 813-858): 

Li Shangyin (Li Shang-yin, 813-858) A jinshi degree holder Poems best known for their ability to express clandestine love and effectively explore various facets of complex emotion and love: Lust, hope, joy, frustration, jealousy, tenderness, and despair Poems embody passion, commitment, and conflict Most famous pieces are those without title “Untitled” (7-ch. regulated verse)

Untitled by Li Shangyin: 

Untitled by Li Shangyin Last night’s planets and stars, last night’s wind, By the painted tower’s west side, east of Cassia Hall--- For us no nearness of phoenixes winging side by side, Yet our hearts became as one, like the rhino’s one-thread horn ….

Poetry of Complaint: 

Poetry of Complaint Poetry written by men in distress, in prison, in disgrace, and in exile Li Bai “Distant Separation”: an allegorical ballad lamenting the devolution of authority to men of no qualification Du Fu “Autumn Day in Kui Prefecture” Han Yu “Written on My Way into Exile” Liu Zongyuan “Poems from Dimwit’s Stream”