In “Song of the Old General,” poet Wang Wei celebrates the resilience, courage, and unwavering duty of a seasoned warrior. The poem opens by recounting the speaker’s yout⋯ Read the full article

In this poem, Wang Wei presents a contemplative view of the Han River and the grand sweep of its currents. By depicting the physical vastness—from its winding journey to ⋯ Read the full article

Wang Wei’s “Green Creek” is a serene meditation on nature’s tranquil beauty and its power to bring us into a state of peace. Throughout the poem, the speaker follows the ⋯ Read the full article

In this poem, Wang Wei captures the calm that settles over his Wangchuan estate once continuous rain finally relents. Each couplet evokes a different facet of a rural wor⋯ Read the full article

In “Returning to Mount Song,” Wang Wei paints an image of someone gradually detaching from worldly bustle. As the poem unfolds, the speaker observes a calm river extendin⋯ Read the full article

In “Passing Xiangji Temple,” Wang Wei takes us along a journey deep into the mountains, where Xiangji Temple stands out of sight. The poem’s first lines highlight the poe⋯ Read the full article

In “Mount Zhongnan,” Wang Wei transports us to a grand, rugged landscape where peaks extend from near the capital to the ocean’s far edges. This poem unfolds an almost pa⋯ Read the full article

In “Observing the Hunt,” Wang Wei offers a snapshot of a frontier hunting expedition during the Tang Dynasty. The poem’s brisk pace and dynamic imagery transport the read⋯ Read the full article

“Mission to the Frontier,” also known as “Envoy to the Frontier,” is one of Wang Wei’s most celebrated poems. Composed during the Tang Dynasty, it depicts the poet’s expe⋯ Read the full article

“A Poetic Tribute to Xi Shi” (often titled “Xi Shi Yong”) by Wang Wei presents a classical Chinese reflection on Xi Shi, one of the legendary “Four Beauties” of ancient C⋯ Read the full article

Known alternately as “Song at Weicheng” or “Farewell at Yang Pass,” this poem by Wang Wei captures the poignant warmth of parting. The opening lines paint a gentle scene:⋯ Read the full article

In “Birdsong Brook,” Wang Wei offers a delicate portrait of a tranquil spring evening in the mountains. The poet begins by underscoring human idleness—people at rest—whil⋯ Read the full article

In “Bamboo Lodge,” Wang Wei immerses the reader in a secluded moment of introspection and poetic grace. Taking place within a tranquil bamboo grove, the poem features the⋯ Read the full article

In “Parting of Yuan the Second on His Mission to Anxi,” Wang Wei crystallizes the bittersweet essence of saying goodbye. Written during the Tang Dynasty, the poem is trad⋯ Read the full article

Wang Wei’s poem “My Retreat in Zhongnan” (also translated as “Dwelling in Zhongnan”) portrays the peaceful life he led after moving away from officialdom toward the seren⋯ Read the full article