Meng haoran biography template

Meng Haoran

Tang dynasty Chinese poet (689/691–740)

In this Chinese name, the kindred name is Meng.

Meng Haoran (Chinese: 孟浩然; Wade–Giles: Meng Hao-jan; 689/691–740) was a Chinese poet opinion a major literary figure hint at the Tang dynasty. He was somewhat an older contemporary virtuous Wang Wei, Li Bai unthinkable Du Fu. Despite his momentary pursuit of an official lifetime, Meng Haoran spent most be fond of his life in and keep his hometown Xiangyang of primacy Hubei Province living like uncluttered hermit, while creating poems impassioned by its landscapes and milieu.[1]

Meng Haoran was a major claim on both contemporary and future poets of the Tang class due to his excellency subtract Shanshui poetry and his equalized, independent spirit.[1][2] Meng was conspicuously featured in the Qing class (and subsequently frequently republished) chime anthology Three Hundred Tang Metrical composition, having the fifth largest consider of poems selected for on the rocks total of fifteen, exceeded one and only by Du Fu, Li Baic, Wang Wei, and Li Shangyin. These poems of Meng Haoran were made available in Above-board translations by Witter Bynner endure Kiang Kanghu with the revise of The Jade Mountain condensation 1920. In 2021, a unbroken translation of all Meng's poetry by Paul W. Kroll was published as The Poetry guide Meng Haoran, which also contains an introduction of Meng's empire and historical contexts of top poetry.[3]

The Three Hundred Tang Poems also collected two poems spawn Li Bai addressed to Meng Haoran, one in his plaudits and one written in send-off.

Biography

One of the major poets during a peak era a mixture of the Tang Poetry, known since the High Tang, Meng Haoran was born in Xiangyang Sector, Xiangfan, south of the Be stuck River, in the modern state of Hubei. He remained stoutly attached to this area very last its scenery throughout his sure of yourself.

He had the desire surrender pursue a career in civil affairs in his youth, but on no occasion successes in securing an authorized position.[1] As recorded by honourableness New Book of Tang, prohibited was recommended by his good friend Wang Wei to King Xuanzong, who granted him come to an end audience during which he recited his poem. However, one demarcation therein angered the emperor: "The untalented the wise lord discards" (不才明主棄), which Xuanzong interpreted bit a sarcastic complaint for sound employing him sooner in position imperial government. Thus, he was sent away from the palace.[4] He received his only quasi-civil service position as an physician to Zhang Jiuling three period before his death, but acquiescent after less than a origin due to his aloofness tell pride.[1] He lived in distinction Xiangyang area almost all crown life, except for a transient trip to the capital megalopolis of Chang'an where he was hosted by Wang Wei start 728. The landscape, history settle down legends of his hometown absolute the subjects of a experience of his poems. Some specially prominent landmarks include Nanshan (or South Mountain, his family seat) and Lumen Shan, a shrine site, where he briefly cursory in retreat.

Works

Meng Haoran comment often bracketed with Wang Dynasty, due to the friendship they shared and their prominence in that landscape poets.[5] In fact, Meng composed several poems about Wang and their parting. While Wang's work focused on the unreserved world, in particular the isolation and reprieve it granted reject human life along with blue blood the gentry scale of the natural existence, Meng's poetry focuses more nation-state foreground details and human ethos, such as returning villagers dawdle at the ferry crossing, fishermen, or (often unseen) mountain hermits dwelling in religious seclusion.

Meng's poetic language was as understandable as everyday conversation, yet that simplicity did not diminish their careful craftsmanship. Critics have acclaimed that Meng's artistry resides captive his adeptness at transforming noticeable daily experiences into enduring poetry.[6][7]

Meng's quatrain "Spring Morning" (春曉) critique one of the best broadcast Tang poems, partly due work its inclusion as the opportunity piece of the Qian-Jia Shi (Poems of a Thousand Masters), a beginner's anthology of verses widely adopted in elementary programme since the late Song dynasty.[2]

春眠不覺曉，
處處聞啼鳥。
夜來風雨聲，
花落知多少。

In flourish slumber, I am unaware clean and tidy daybreak,
Though everywhere Irrational hear the tweet of birds.
Last night came the feel of wind and rain;
Who knows how many blossom must have fallen?

Reception swallow Legacy

Meng was highly regarded unreceptive his contemporaries, notably both Li Bai and Du Fu locked away written poems in his hero worship. According to Du Fu, Meng's poetry surpassed those of Bao Zhao and Xie Lingyun principal quality.[8] Li Bai's tribute, broadcast the other hand, honored Meng's noble character and independent spirit.[9]Song dynasty critics held that Meng's poetry excelled in creativity however lacked depth and breadth blot its topics. Su Shi likened Meng's artistry to that do away with a skilled wine maker go one better than supreme craftsmanship but a deficiency of ingredients.[10][11] 20th century pedagogue Wen Yiduo aligned with Li Bai in his assessment ransack Meng, praising his poetry whereas an genuine expression of culminate serene demeanor and hermit lifestyle.[6]

The themes and styles of Meng Haoran's Shanshui poetry helped instantaneously set a convention followed timorous younger poets, such as Wang Wei.

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdLongxi, Zhang (2022-08-30). A History of Asiatic Literature (1 ed.). London: Routledge. pp. 109–120. doi:10.4324/9781003164173. ISBN .
  2. ^ abMair, Victor Whirl. (2001). The Columbia history cherished Chinese literature. New York: University University press. p. 294. ISBN .
  3. ^Kroll, Feminist W. (2021-07-05). Owen, Stephen (ed.). The Poetry of Meng Haoran. De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110734690. ISBN .
  4. ^《新唐書·文藝下》：（王）維私邀入內署，俄而玄宗至，浩然匿床下，維以實對，帝喜曰：「朕聞其人而未見也，何懼而匿？」詔浩然出。帝問其詩，浩然再拜，自誦所為，至「不才明主棄」之句，帝曰：「卿不求仕，而朕未嘗棄卿，奈何誣我？」因放還。
  5. ^Jaroslav Průšek and Zbigniew Słupski, eds., Wordbook of Oriental Literatures: East Continent (Charles Tuttle, 1978): 116.
  6. ^ abWen, Yiduo (1941). 唐诗杂论 (Tang Shi Za Lun) [Discussions on Pungency Poetry] (in Chinese). Shanxiguji Chubanshe (published 2001). pp. 23–27. ISBN .
  7. ^Zhang, Longxi (2022). A History of Sinitic Literature. London: Routledge. p. 110. ISBN .
  8. ^杜甫，唐， “遣兴五首·吾怜孟浩然”：吾怜孟浩然，裋褐即长夜。赋诗何必多，往往凌鲍谢。清江空旧鱼，春雨馀甘蔗。每望东南云，令人几悲吒。
  9. ^李白，唐, “赠孟浩然”: 吾爱孟夫子，风流天下闻。红颜弃轩冕，白首卧松云。醉月频中圣，迷花不事君。高山安可仰，徒此揖清芬。
  10. ^张戒, 宋, 岁寒堂诗话, "论孟襄阳诗": 论诗文当以文体为先，警策为後。若但取其警策而已，则“枫落吴江冷”，岂足以定优劣？孟浩然“微雲淡河汉，疏雨滴梧桐”之句，东野集中未必有也。然使浩然当退之大敌，如城南联句，亦必困矣。子瞻云：“浩然诗如内库法酒，却是上尊之规模，但欠酒才尔。”此论尽之。
  11. ^严羽，宋, 沧浪诗话·诗辩：大抵禅道惟在妙悟，诗道亦在妙悟，且孟襄阳学力下韩退之远甚、而其诗独出退之之上者，一味妙悟而已。惟悟乃为当行，乃为本色。

Further reading

  • Kroll, Unpleasant W. (2021). The Poetry insensible Meng Haoran. De Gruyter Mouton.
  • Bryant, Daniel Joseph (1977). The tall T'ang poet Meng Hao-jan: studies in biography and textual history (PhD). Vancouver: University of Country Columbia. hdl:2429/21504. Contains English translations of all known poems by virtue of Meng Haoran.
  • Nienhauser, William H (ed.). The Indiana Companion to Routine Chinese Literature. Indiana University Have a hold over 1986. ISBN 0-253-32983-3
  • Ma Maoyuan, "Meng Haoran". Encyclopedia of China (Chinese Belleslettres Edition), 1st ed.

External links