Often categorized under his “Untitled” poems, this brief work by Li Shangyin opens with an image of a “clouded screen” that hints at both physical and emotional veils. Th⋯ Read the full article

In this poem, Li Shangyin draws inspiration from the Chinese myth of Chang'e, the goddess who ascends to the moon after consuming an elixir of immortality—at the cost of ⋯ Read the full article

In this poem often translated as “Renewed Reflection,” Li Shangyin contemplates the contrast between the splendid past and the subdued present. The opening lines evoke a ⋯ Read the full article

In this poem attributed to Li Shangyin, the speaker contemplates the intricate blend of longing, separation, and natural transition across the seasons. The opening stanza⋯ Read the full article

In this concise yet evocative poem, Li Shangyin encapsulates the tension between the allure of a magnificent sunset and the inevitable encroachment of nightfall. The spea⋯ Read the full article

In “Sui Palace,” Li Shangyin invokes the story of Emperor Yang of Sui, whose fateful expedition south ended in his downfall and the collapse of the Sui Dynasty. The poem ⋯ Read the full article

In Li Shangyin’s poem “Mawei (No. 2),” the poet meditates on the tragedy and aftermath surrounding the Mawei Inn incident—often alluding to the downfall linked to Emperor⋯ Read the full article

“Spring Rain” by Li Shangyin depicts a mood of wistfulness set against the quiet melancholy of a freshly arrived spring. The poet begins by describing his own state—lying⋯ Read the full article

In this first of Li Shangyin’s “Yantai Four Poems,” the poet paints a scene in which the gentle hues of willow trees shroud a once-splendid tower. These lines invoke a se⋯ Read the full article

In this untitled poem, Li Shangyin portrays the tender ache of affection set against the backdrop of night skies and gentle breezes. The opening lines evoke a wistful mem⋯ Read the full article

Li Shangyin’s poem “Untitled (Meeting Is Hard, Parting Is Also Hard)” captures the complexity of human emotion when love and distance intertwine. The opening lines highli⋯ Read the full article

Li Shangyin’s poem “The Brocade Zither” is renowned for its layered imagery and emotional depth. The poem opens with a zither of fifty strings, suggesting a vast range of⋯ Read the full article

In “Night Rain Sent North,” Li Shangyin addresses a friend or loved one far away, capturing the profound ache of separation on a rainy evening. The setting of the Ba Moun⋯ Read the full article

In this poem, Wang Wei contemplates the tomb of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, whose ambitious rule reshaped the land through magnificent feats like the Great Wall⋯ Read the full article

Wang Wei’s “Peach Blossom Journey” invokes the legend of a hidden utopia, a theme famously introduced by Tao Yuanming in his prose work “Peach Blossom Spring.” In this po⋯ Read the full article