Tang poetry

  • Liu Zongyuan

    Liu Zongyuan (773–819 CE) was a distinguished literary figure, philosopher, and political reformer of the Tang dynasty. His courtesy name was Zihou, and he was a native of Jiezhou, Hedong (modern-day Yuncheng, Shanxi), for which he was commonly known as “Liu of Hedong” (Liu Hedong).

  • To a Friend Parting for Shu [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai Rugged is the road, I hear, Built by the pioneer. In front steep mountains rise; Beside my horse cloud flies. Over plank way trees hang down; Spring water girds the town. Decided our rise and fall. Do not bother at all!

  • Farewell to Uncle Yun at Xie Tiao Pavilion [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai What left me yesterday Can be retained no more; What troubles me today Is the times for which I feel sore. In autumn wind for miles and miles the wild geese fly. Let’s drink in face of this in the pavilion high! Your writing’s forcible like ancient poets while Mine is…

  • Seeing Meng Haoran off at Yellow Crane Tower [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai My friend has left the west where the Yellow Crane towers For River Town green with willows and red with flowers. His lessening sail is lost in the boundless blue sky, Where I see but the endless River rolling by.

  • Farewell at the Baling Pavilion [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai We part at the Pavilion Old; The river flows its water cold. Above we see trees not in bloom. Below the vernal grass in gloom. I ask a wanderer if we go astray; He says an ancient poet took this way. The way extends to the west capital, Where floating clouds…

  • To Wang Changling Banished to the West [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai All willow-down has fallen and sad cuckoos cry To hear you banished southwestward beyond Five Streams. I would confide no sorrow to the moon on high For it will follow you west of the Land of Dreams.

  • Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng

    By Wang Bo (Tang Dynasty) The old prefecture of Yuzhang, now the new seat of Hongzhou.Its stars align with the constellations Yi and Zhen; its land borders Mount Heng and Mount Lu.Girded by the Three Rivers and belted by the Five Lakes, it commands the southern Jing region and links Ou and Yue.Here nature’s…

  • Seeing Wei Wan off to the Capital [Tang Poems]

    — Li Qi At dawn I hear the roamer’s farewell song; Last night a thin frost crossed the river long. Are you not grieved to hear the wild geese cry? Can you bear clouds and mountains passing by? Yellow leaves hasten the cold to come near. Could washerwomen’s song reach their men’s ear? Don’t…

  • Invitation to Wine

     – by Li Bai (Tang Dynasty) Don’t you see?The Yellow River’s waters come from the sky,Rushing to the sea – never to return.