Clouds Should Know Me by Now: Buddhist Poet Monks of China
This unique collection presents the verse - much of it translated for the first time - of fourteen eminent Chinese Buddhist poet monks. Featuring the original Chinese as well as English translations and historical introductions by Burton Watson, J. P. Seaton, Paul Hansen, James Sanford, and the editors, this book provides an appreciation and understanding of this elegant and traditional expression of spirituality.
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This unique collection presents the verses, much of it translated for the first time, of fourteen eminent Chinese Buddhist poet monks. Featuring the original Chinese as well as English translations and historical introductions by Burton Watson, J.P. Seaton, Paul Hansen, James Sanford, and the editors, The Clouds Should Know Me By Now provides an appreciation and understanding of this elegant and traditional expression of spirituality.Library JournalThe witty introduction to this volume invites us to "take a walk with the Ch'an Buddha-ancestors, these cranky, melancholy, lonely, mischievous poet-ancestors." These poets, Chinese monks of the Ch'an (Zen) tradition who spanned the ninth to the 19th centuries, lived in intimacy with the physical world, many of them in caves or huts in the mountains, and their poems reflect a deep connection to nature. In the 1950s, Gary Snyder made the poetry of the Ch'an poet Han-Shan popular in the West; this volume introduces us to the writings of several others, most of them newly translated into English. The Chinese texts are included. The struggle to quiet the mind, even for these masters, is continually present--and from this struggle come achingly beautiful poems: "Flat Lake cold penetrates water-lily clothes/ the mountain by the lake is neither right nor wrong." In their haunting simplicity, the poems collected here remind us of our oneness with the environment. Highly recommended for all libraries.--Judy Clarence, California State Univ. Lib., Hayward
PrefaceIntroduction1Chia Tao (779-843)11Ch'i-chi (864-937)43The Nine Monks and Chih Yuan, Poet Monks of Early Sung China (late tenth century)75Han-shan Te-ch'ing (1546-1623)113Shih-shu (late 17th century - early 18th century)141Ching An (1851-1912)173Epilogue199Index of First Lines203About the Contributors208
\ Library JournalThe witty introduction to this volume invites us to "take a walk with the Ch'an Buddha-ancestors, these cranky, melancholy, lonely, mischievous poet-ancestors." These poets, Chinese monks of the Ch'an (Zen) tradition who spanned the ninth to the 19th centuries, lived in intimacy with the physical world, many of them in caves or huts in the mountains, and their poems reflect a deep connection to nature. In the 1950s, Gary Snyder made the poetry of the Ch'an poet Han-Shan popular in the West; this volume introduces us to the writings of several others, most of them newly translated into English. The Chinese texts are included. The struggle to quiet the mind, even for these masters, is continually present--and from this struggle come achingly beautiful poems: "Flat Lake cold penetrates water-lily clothes/ the mountain by the lake is neither right nor wrong." In their haunting simplicity, the poems collected here remind us of our oneness with the environment. Highly recommended for all libraries.--Judy Clarence, California State Univ. Lib., Hayward\ \ \ \ \ Tricycle MagazineRed Pine and other translators bring the poets of the "crimson leaves" and "azure depths" of Ch'an Buddhism back to vivd life. The poetry is spare, but the images of enlightenment and alpine solitude are fresh and elegant.\ \
