Selected Poems of Su Shi: Classical Poetry Masterpieces

Author: Kong Fanli
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Su Shi was a prominent literary figure of the Northern Song Dynasty, achieving extraordinary accomplishments in various fields such as poetry, lyrics, and prose. His poetry, alongside Huang Tingjian, was regarded as a representative of "Song Poetry," while his lyrics pioneered a new tradition, establishing a distinct school and becoming a leader in the reform of lyric poetry. This book carefully selects 135 poems and 27 lyrics from Su Shi's over 2,700 poems and 330 lyrics, arranging them in chronological order and providing detailed annotations. After reading this collection, one can claim to have seen the best of Su Shi's poetry and lyrics.
Su Shi (1037–1101): Northern Song Dynasty literary figure and painter. Known as Zizhan, styled Dongpo Jushi, he was from Meishan, Meizhou (now part of Sichuan). Son of Su Xun. He passed the imperial examination in Jiayou and served as a staff member of the Worship Department during the reign of Emperor Shenzong. Due to his opposition to Wang Anshi's new reforms, he sought a post outside the capital and served as the magistrate of Hangzhou, governor of Mici, Xuzhou, and Huai'an. Later, he was exiled to Huangzhou for composing poems that were deemed critical of the court. During the reign of Emperor Zhizong, he served as a Hanlin Academician and held posts in Hangzhou and Yingzhou, eventually rising to the position of Minister of Rites. He was later exiled to Huizhou and Dangzhou. He died in Changzhou the year after his return north. In the Southern Song Dynasty, he was posthumously honored as Wenzhong. Together with his father Su Xun and his younger brother Su Zhe, he is known as the "Three Su." Politically, he belonged to the Old Faction but also advocated for reforms to corrupt policies. His prose is vast and unrestrained, clear and fluent, making him one of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song." His poetry is fresh, vigorous, and skillful in the use of exaggeration and metaphors, displaying a unique artistic style. A few of his poems also reflect the suffering of the common people and criticize the extravagance and arrogance of rulers. His lyrics pioneered the bold and unrestrained style, greatly influencing later generations. His famous works include "Nian Nu Jiao · Chibi Huiguo" (Aria to the Lady Nian Nu on the Red Cliff) and "Shui Diao Ge · Bingshi Zhongqiu" (Ode to the Moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival). He excelled in running script and regular script, drawing inspiration from Li Yong, Xu Hao, Yan Zhenqing, and Yang Ningshi while also innovating his own style. His brushwork is rich and dynamic, with a carefree and natural charm. Together with Cai Xiang, Huang Tingjian, and Mi Fu, he is known as the "Four Masters of the Song." He was also skilled in painting bamboo, learning from Wen Tong, and enjoyed creating works of withered trees and strange rocks. In art theory, he advocated for "spirit resemblance" and believed that "to judge a painting by its resemblance to the form is to be as ignorant as a child." He highly praised the artistic achievement of "poetry within painting and painting within poetry." His collected works include "Dongpo Seven Collections" and others. His extant calligraphic works include "Reply to Meng Shen's Essay on Literature," "Eulogy for Huang Judo," "Preface to the Red Cliff," and "Cold Food Observance in Huangzhou." His paintings include "Withered Trees and Strange Rocks" and "Bamboo and Stone."