Chinese-English Parallel Translation of 150 Tang Poems (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Chen Junpu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-11-01
Features: This book includes over 150 English translations of Tang Dynasty poems, almost all of which are quatrains. These short poems were completed in the first half of 2003. Subsequently, they underwent multiple revisions before reaching their final form. Now, as the book is about to be published, I feel a sense of relief and joy. This is because the author feels a sense of "making contributions in old age" and, despite advanced years, remains dedicated to the translation of poetry, making a modest contribution to the cultural cause of the motherland. This helps young people and poetry enthusiasts both domestically and internationally better understand the charm of Tang Dynasty quatrains in China.
As is well known, the highest realm of translation is to convey the meaning and spirit, but conveying the meaning is easy while capturing the spirit is difficult, especially in translating poetry. This involves mastery of language, understanding and expression of the original poem's (yijing - artistic conception), arrangement of rhythm and rhyme, and so on. The author's translations are disciplined and faithful yet not rigid, flexible yet not scattered. The wording is concise and clear, and the lines are smooth and flowing. Therefore, the book holds certain reference value for both students (middle school, university, and graduate students) and teachers, as well as poetry enthusiasts both domestically and internationally.