SSU-MA Ch'ien Grand Historian of China

Watson, Burton

Columbia

Watson, Burton, Early Chinese Literature

Early Chinese Literature

Literature & Fiction

Columbia University Press

Chinese lyricism;: Shih poetry from the second to the twelfth century, (Companions to Asian studies)

In the thousand years covered by this volume the shih reached its highest level of development. A lyric form which, using a predominantly four-character line, had earlier been employed in the Confucian Book of Odes, it rose to prominence once more in the period under discussion. The new shih, which differed from the original form only in its use of a five- or seven-character line, became the best known and most characteristic of Chinese poetic forms.

Chinese Lyricism

History & Criticism

Chinese rhyme-prose;: Poems in the fu form from the Han and Six Dynasties periods (UNESCO collection of representative works:)

Selected as one of the sixty-five masterpieces for the UNESCO Collection of Representative WorksThe fu, or rhyme-prose, is a major poetic form in Chinese literature, most popular between the 2nd century b.c. and 6th century a.d. Unlike what is usually considered Chinese poetry, it is a hybrid of prose and rhymed verse, more expansive than the condensed lyrics, verging on what might be called Whitmanesque. The thirteen long poems included here are descriptions of and meditations on such subjects as mountains and abandoned cities, the sea and the wind, owls and goddesses, partings and the idle life.Burton Watson is universally considered the foremost English-language translator of classical Chinese and Japanese literature for the past five decades. Gary Snyder calls him a “great and graceful scholar,” and Robert Aitken has written that “Burton Watson is a superb translator because he knows what literature is.” Here his seemingly effortless translations are accompanied by a comprehensive introduction to the development and characteristics of the fu form, as well as excerpts from contemporary commentary on the genre. A path-breaking study of pre-modern Chinese literature and an essential volume for poetry readers, the book has been out of print for decades. For this edition, Lucas Klein has provided a preface that considers both the fu form and Watson’s extraordinary work as a whole.

Poetry

The basic writings of Chuang Tzu have been savored by Chinese readers for over two thousand years. And Burton Watson's lucid and beautiful translation has been loved by generations of readers.
Chuang Tzu (369?-286? B.C.) was a leading philosopher representing the Taoist strain in Chinese thought. Using parable and anecdote, allegory and paradox, he set forth, in the book that bears his name, the early ideas of what was to become the Taoist school. Central to these is the belief that only by understanding Tao (the Way of Nature) and dwelling in its unity can man achieve true happiness and freedom, in both life and death.
 Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings includes the seven "inner chapters," which form the heart of the book, three of the "outer chapters," and one of the "miscellaneous chapters." Watson also provides an introduction, placing the philosopher in relation to Chinese history and thought.
Witty and imaginative, enriched by brilliant imagery, and making sportive use of both mythological and historical personages (including even Confucius), this timeless classic is sure to appeal to anyone interested in Chinese religion and culture.

Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings

World Literature

Columbia Univ. Pr.

Watson's account of Chinese writing from the time of the Chou dynasty (1100--249 B.C.) to the Latter Han (25-220) is accompanied by a chronology, biographical information, and a selected list of translations.

Masaoka Shiki

Here are graceful and timeless poems by one of Japan´s greatest modern writers, rendered by a master translator. Masaoka Shiki (18671902) is credited with modernizing Japan´s two traditional verse forms, haiku and tanka. Born at a time of social and cultural change in Japan, Shiki welcomed the new influences from the West and responded to them by reinvigorating the native haiku and tanka forms. He freed them from outdated conventions, made them viable for artistic expression in modern Japan, and paved the way for the haiku to become one of his nation´s most influential cultural exports. Burton Watson´s excellent introduction explores the course of Shiki´s life: his poverty-stricken childhood, his early love for literature, his education, and his work as a haiku editor for the newspaper and as a correspondent during the Sino-Japanese war. Watson details Shiki´s long struggle with tuberculosis and its poignant expression in his poetry. Confined to bed for months before his death, Shiki continued to devote his energies to literary pursuits: writing poems and critical essays, and joining with friends and followers who gathered in his sickroom to discuss literature. He died a few weeks before his thirty-fifth birthday. These poems -more than a hundred haiku, several tanka, and three kanshi -are arranged chronologically within each genre, revealing the development of Shiki´s art and the seamless way in which he wove his life and illness into his poetry.

Shiki, Masaoka

Masaoka, Shiki

Compiled by disciples of Confucius in the centuries following his death in 479 B.C.E., The Analects of Confucius is a collection of aphorisms and historical anecdotes embodying the basic values of the Confucian tradition: learning, morality, ritual decorum, and filial piety. Reflecting the model eras of Chinese antiquity, the Analects offers valuable insights into successful governance and the ideal organization of society. Filled with humor and sarcasm, it reads like a casual conversation between teacher and student, emphasizing the role of the individual in the attainment of knowledge and the value of using historical events and people to illuminate moral and political concepts. Confucius's teachings focus on cultural and peaceful pursuits and the characteristics of benevolent and culturally distinguished government. He also discusses ancestor worship and other rites performed for the spirits of the dead. The single most influential philosophical work in all of Chinese history, The Analects of Confucius has shaped the thought and customs of China and neighboring countries for centuries. Burton Watson's concise translation uses the pinyin romanization system and keeps explanatory notes to a minimum, yet his intimate knowledge of the Confucian tradition and precise attention to linguistic detail capture the original text's elegance, cogency, and wit.

The Analects of Confucius (Translations from the Asian Classics)

History

Asia

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Books by Watson, Burton

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Watson, Burton. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

SSU-MA Ch'ien Grand Historian of China

Early Chinese Literature

Chinese lyricism;: Shih poetry from the second to the twelfth century, (Companions to Asian studies)

Chinese Lyricism

Chinese rhyme-prose;: Poems in the fu form from the Han and Six Dynasties periods (UNESCO collection of representative works:)

Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings

Early Chinese Literature

Masaoka Shiki

The Analects of Confucius (Translations from the Asian Classics)

The Analects of Confucius (Translations from the Asian Classics)