Classic Complete Collection of Poems by Dai Wangshu

Author: Zhang Hong, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Dai Wangshu (1905.3.5-1950.2.28) had the pen names Dai Mengou, Jiang En, Ai Angfu, etc. He was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. He was a renowned modern Chinese poet. In 1923, he enrolled in the Department of Literature at Shanghai University. In 1925, he transferred to the French Department of Tsinghua University. In 1926, he co-founded the weekly magazine Ying Luo with Shi Zhecun and Du Heng, publishing his first poem Leaving with Tears and a translation of Paul Verlaine's work in the inaugural issue. In 1928, he co-founded Literary Workshop with Shi Zhecun, Du Heng, and Feng Xuefeng. In April 1929, this poetry collection My Memory was published, with The Rain Alley becoming a widely celebrated masterpiece, earning him the title "Poet of the Rain Alley." In 1932, he joined the editorial team of Modern, edited by Shi Zhecun. In early November, he went abroad for studies at the Lyon Sino-French University. In spring 1935, he returned to China. In October 1936, he co-founded the monthly magazine New Poetry with Bian Zhilin, Sun Dàyu, Liang Zongdai, Feng Zhi, and others. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance, he edited the literary supplement of Dagongbao in Hong Kong and launched the magazine Gengyuan. In spring 1938, he edited the literary supplement of Xingdao Daily in Hong Kong. In 1939, he co-edited Dingdian with Ai Qing. In late 1941, he was arrested and imprisoned. While in prison, he wrote poems such as In Prison (Ji Zhong Ti Bi), With My Damaged Hands, Wish, and Waiting. In June 1949, he attended the National Conference of Chinese Literary and Art Workers in Beijing. After the founding of the People's Republic, he worked as a compiler at the General News Bureau. He passed away in Beijing shortly after. Dai Wangshu was a celebrated "Poet of the Rain Alley" in modern Chinese poetry. His poetry and literary criticism were highly individualistic, though his total output was modest, yet he achieved widespread and profound influence through "less being more." He was a representative figure of modernist symbolism in Chinese poetry and held an undeniable position in the history of modern Chinese poetry. His poems such as The Rain Alley, In Prison, and With My Damaged Hands are regarded as masterpieces of modern Chinese poetry. Dai Wangshu's talent was rooted in his deep cultural cultivation. His poetry blended the ambiguity and novelty of Western European verse with the subtlety and sensitivity of classical Chinese poetry, forging a unique poetic style. He was adept at absorbing the techniques of Western modernist poetry while deeply preserving the traditional poetic spirit of his nation. He skillfully employed surreal methods while remaining concerned with real-life issues. In this sense, Dai Wangshu was not only one of the most important representatives of the modernist school but also one of its most distinctive poets.