Beautiful classical

Author: Luo Yuming (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: July 1, 2003
Features: This small booklet selects approximately 70 classical Tang poems that have long been familiar and beloved by people, accompanied by brief textual explanations. Titled "Beautiful Classics," the content may seem somewhat thin, but it should still be appropriate. These poems are truly beautiful. As for the selections, they are mostly short pieces. This is not only because long poems can be exhausting to read, which does not align with the purpose of compiling this booklet, but also because short poems are indeed the most exquisite in Tang poetry. A Japanese friend once told me about his mother's story: For many years, the elderly woman would burn incense and worship the moon alone in her courtyard during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Later, when Americans landed on the moon, she sighed and stopped practicing this old tradition. Modern technology constantly dispels distant dreams from people's hearts, while commercial civilization fosters shrewd and practical calculations to fill the void. Especially in China over the past decade, society has shaken and re-established a hierarchy of wealth, making people's hearts even more anxious and hurried. Yes, the ethereal and carefree attitude of classical culture as a way of life is probably no longer possible. I do not intend to exaggerate the value of classical poetry in real life, nor do I consider myself a guardian of traditional culture. However, based on personal experience, I believe that occasionally returning to a poetic mood during anxious and restless times is still good. Life is ancient, and it has the potential to connect with various modes of existence, thereby enriching itself. In the realm of an ancient poem, you can wander among plants and trees, linger in the clouds and waters, or listen to the mournful of a frontier town. At that moment, life enjoys rich meaning and knows that any mode of existence is merely a encounter with time and space. There have already been many books on appreciating Tang poetry, but my writings are unlikely to be similar to others'. It is not that I have particularly profound insights, nor does poetry rely on explanations. I simply pay more attention to how the mood of a poem and its language can be presented, while avoiding trivial, clumsy interpretations and exaggerated, sentimental extrapolations. I hope these words make it easier for readers to appreciate the inherent vitality of classical poetry. This can be considered a form of communication with readers about their poetic experiences, and it may also provide some insights for those less familiar with the expressive techniques of classical poetry. The origin of this booklet was also accidental. Over the years, due to social pressures, I have intermittently written some brief and shallow texts about reading poetry, gradually accumulating more and more. I remember that when some chapters were published in a middle school magazine, a reader wrote to me, urging me to take on a more significant cultural responsibility, implying that writing such shallow and trivial texts was not befitting my status. This was because of a misunderstanding of me. However, writing something that I find meaningful and that readers find enjoyable is also a laborious task. There are still some people who enjoy reading it. My friends at Fudan University Press thought it could be compiled into a book, so they added a few more pieces and roughly organized them into the current form. It should be noted that some of the content here has been published in collaboration with others (e.g., Gu Yijun), and minor revisions have been made for inclusion. I sincerely thank my collaborators for their generosity. The editor-in-chief, Song Wentao, put in much effort to make the book more appealing, and I am grateful to him for that.