Poems

Strikingly contemporary-feeling poems about Buddhism and luxury from Wang Wei, one of the greatest poets in Chinese literature

Wang Wei, one of Chinese literature’s greatest poets, divided his time between the court and his country estate, where he drew inspiration from the mountains and solitude. His poetry affirms his belief in a whole natural order, and his delicately observed descriptions of landscapes are infused throughout with a sense of unity and Buddhist devotion. Yet it also bears testament to the tension Wang Wei experienced in his own life between that unity and life’s various pleasures, as he experienced in the court.Translated with an introduction by G. W. Robinson.