QUESTION:
A master poet of ancient China, this poet
was a contemporary and friend of Li Po. Despite
his privileged birth and the literary accomplishments
of his forefathers, he was neither successful
nor popular in his poetic and political pursuits.
He died in 770 after failing to win imperial
approval with his writing and after holding
only a few modest positions at court. His
poetry is however widely celebrated for its
wide range of subject matter and the directness
with which it handles its content. It is also
known for its linguistic subtleties, which
- as is often lamented - do not always survive
translation into the English language.
Who is this famous poet?
A. Du Fu;
B. Du Mu;
C. Li Ge;
D. Cui Hao [Ts'ui Hao].
ANSWERS:
Give yourself ten points if
you said A!
The tale of great talent going unrecognized
until the artist or writer has died is common
both in the west and the east. Many poets
throughout Chinese history have spent their
lives in modest circumstances and their writing
has only been appreciated long after their
demise. Whether because they were ahead of
their time or because of circumstance and
situation, the literary world is better off
for having known them.
