The Story of Tang Poetry

Author: Wang Shu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: This book indeed has its unique characteristics. First, it does not discuss poems in isolation like typical "selected collections" or "appreciations" of Tang poetry. Instead, it weaves together major historical events, cultural arts, famous scenic spots, local customs, and frontier landscapes of the Tang Dynasty as the main thread, skillfully linking them with Tang poems. It organically narrates the background of poem creation, analyzes the connections and differences between the works of poets from the same era, and appropriately interweaves the life experiences and travel stories of the poets, including many of the author's unique insights and reflections. Second, Wang Shu, the author of The Stories of Tang Poetry, is actually a natural scientist specializing in geology, which is no wonder given the novel and distinctive style of his work. From a young age, the author had a deep understanding of Tang poetry and devoted years to research, visiting the historical sites and scenic spots mentioned in the poems, collecting legends and changes related to Tang and Han tombs. After multiple revisions, he completed this book. The Chinese people's emotions of homesickness, nostalgia, parting, longing for the past, praising spring, climbing mountains, expressing aspirations, and mourning the dead—all have long formed their own unique linguistic and psychological paradigms in Tang poetry. Tang poetry is a great achievement and a great source of the spirit of the Chinese nation.