Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Táng shī: 唐诗 - Tang Dynasty Poetry ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** Tang shi, 唐诗, Tang Dynasty poetry, Chinese poetry, classic Chinese literature, Li Bai, Du Fu, ancient Chinese poems, learn Chinese poetry, what is Tang shi. * **Summary:** **唐诗 (Táng shī)** refers to the poetry of China's Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), universally regarded as the golden age of Chinese literature. This vast collection of poems, with masterpieces from poets like Li Bai (李白) and Du Fu (杜甫), is a cornerstone of Chinese culture. More than just ancient texts, Tang Dynasty poetry is memorized by schoolchildren, quoted in daily conversation, and its elegant imagery continues to influence Chinese art and language today. For any learner, understanding **唐诗** offers a profound window into the Chinese soul, its values, and its aesthetic sensibilities. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** Táng shī * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A (Cultural Term) * **Concise Definition:** Poetry from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **唐诗 (Táng shī)** as China's equivalent to the works of Shakespeare—but with even wider cultural penetration. It's not just a literary genre; it's a shared cultural heirloom. These poems capture the full spectrum of human experience, from the beauty of a quiet landscape and the joy of friendship to the sorrow of war and the bitterness of parting. To the Chinese, **唐诗** represents a peak of civilization and a source of timeless wisdom and beauty. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **唐 (Táng):** This character refers to the Tang Dynasty, one of the most prosperous, cosmopolitan, and culturally brilliant periods in Chinese history. It is a symbol of national strength and artistic achievement. * **诗 (shī):** This character means "poem," "poetry," or "verse." It is composed of the "speech" radical (言 yán) and a phonetic component (寺 sì), suggesting words that are structured and refined, like a well-ordered temple. * Together, **唐诗 (Táng shī)** literally means "Poetry of the Tang Dynasty." It's a simple, descriptive name for a monumental body of work. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **The Gold Standard of Poetry:** In the landscape of Chinese literature, **唐诗** is the undisputed peak. While poetry existed long before and continued to evolve after, the Tang Dynasty produced an unparalleled quantity and quality of verse. Its forms, themes, and language became the model for all subsequent generations of poets. Every Chinese person who goes through the education system memorizes famous **唐诗**. * **Comparison to Western Culture:** A good comparison is to the collective works of Shakespeare in English. Both are foundational to their respective languages and are filled with phrases that have become common idioms. However, the cultural role of **唐诗** is arguably even more pervasive. While Shakespeare is revered in the West, quoting him in casual conversation might seem pretentious. In China, quoting a line of **唐诗** to describe a beautiful moon or express sadness over a friend's departure is natural and seen as a sign of good education and emotional depth. It's a living, breathing part of the culture, not just a subject for academic study. * **Reflected Values:** **唐诗** is a rich tapestry of Chinese philosophy and values. You'll find: * **Daoist (道家) Appreciation for Nature:** Many poems celebrate a deep, spiritual connection with mountains, rivers, and the changing seasons. * **Confucian (儒家) Social Commentary:** Poets like Du Fu documented the struggles of the common people, the injustices of war, and the duties of friendship and loyalty. * **Buddhist (佛家) Themes:** Ideas of transience, detachment, and the illusory nature of the material world are woven into many verses. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Education:** **唐诗** is a mandatory part of the Chinese language curriculum from elementary school onwards. The phrase **"背唐诗 (bèi Tángshī)"** (to memorize/recite Tang poetry) is a common experience for every child. * **Quoting in Conversation:** People frequently drop lines from **唐诗** into conversation to add color, depth, or authority to what they are saying. For example, to describe a moment of shared understanding with a friend, one might allude to a poem about "知音 (zhīyīn)" (a soulmate who understands your music). * **Artistic Inspiration:** The **意境 (yìjìng)**, or "artistic mood," of **唐诗** is a constant source of inspiration for paintings, calligraphy, music, and even film. * **Naming Children:** Parents sometimes select characters or phrases from beautiful **唐诗** to give their children meaningful and elegant names. * **Connotation:** The term is always positive and carries a high degree of cultural prestige. Praising something by comparing it to **唐诗** is a very high compliment. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我从小就喜欢读**唐诗**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ cóngxiǎo jiù xǐhuān dú **Tángshī**. * English: I've loved reading Tang Dynasty poetry since I was little. * Analysis: A simple, common statement expressing a personal interest. `从小就 (cóngxiǎo jiù)` means "since childhood." * **Example 2:** * 老师要求我们明天背诵一首**唐诗**。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī yāoqiú wǒmen míngtiān bèisòng yī shǒu **Tángshī**. * English: The teacher asked us to recite a Tang poem from memory tomorrow. * Analysis: This sentence reflects the central role of **唐诗** in Chinese education. `背诵 (bèisòng)` is the specific word for reciting something memorized. * **Example 3:** * 很多外国人觉得**唐诗**的意境很难翻译。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō wàiguó rén juédé **Tángshī** de yìjìng hěn nán fānyì. * English: Many foreigners find the artistic mood (yijing) of Tang poetry difficult to translate. * Analysis: This touches on a key concept in Chinese aesthetics, `意境 (yìjìng)`, which is the unique atmosphere or feeling a work of art evokes. * **Example 4:** * 李白是中国最著名的**唐诗**作者之一。 * Pinyin: Lǐ Bái shì Zhōngguó zuì zhùmíng de **Tángshī** zuòzhě zhī yī. * English: Li Bai is one of China's most famous Tang poetry authors. * Analysis: This sentence introduces a key figure. Note the structure `...之一 (...zhī yī)`, meaning "one of the...". * **Example 5:** * 这幅山水画让我想起了一首**唐诗**。 * Pinyin: Zhè fú shānshuǐhuà ràng wǒ xiǎngqǐ le yī shǒu **Tángshī**. * English: This landscape painting reminds me of a Tang poem. * Analysis: This shows the strong connection between different Chinese art forms, particularly painting and poetry. `山水画 (shānshuǐhuà)` is "landscape painting." * **Example 6:** * 你能给我推荐一本好的**唐诗**选集吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ néng gěi wǒ tuījiàn yī běn hǎo de **Tángshī** xuǎnjí ma? * English: Can you recommend a good anthology of Tang poetry to me? * Analysis: A practical question a learner might ask. `选集 (xuǎnjí)` means "anthology" or "selected collection." * **Example 7:** * 这句“海上生明月，天涯共此时”出自一首著名的**唐诗**。 * Pinyin: Zhè jù “hǎi shàng shēng míngyuè, tiānyá gòng cǐ shí” chūzì yī shǒu zhùmíng de **Tángshī**. * English: This line, "Over the sea, the bright moon rises; from the edge of the world, we share this moment," comes from a famous Tang poem. * Analysis: This demonstrates how specific lines are quoted and attributed. `出自 (chūzì)` means "comes from" or "originates from." * **Example 8:** * 他的散文写得很有**唐诗**的韵味。 * Pinyin: Tā de sǎnwén xiě de hěn yǒu **Tángshī** de yùnwèi. * English: His prose is written with the elegant charm of Tang poetry. * Analysis: Here, **唐诗** is used metaphorically to describe a quality or style. `韵味 (yùnwèi)` means "lingering charm" or "appealing flavor." * **Example 9:** * 学习**唐诗**是理解中国文化的一个好方法。 * Pinyin: Xuéxí **Tángshī** shì lǐjiě Zhōngguó wénhuà de yī gè hǎo fāngfǎ. * English: Studying Tang poetry is a good way to understand Chinese culture. * Analysis: This sentence frames the term as a cultural key, which is a core theme of this entry. * **Example 10:** * 虽然杜甫的**唐诗**没有李白的浪漫，但它更深刻地反映了社会现实。 * Pinyin: Suīrán Dù Fǔ de **Tángshī** méiyǒu Lǐ Bái de làngmàn, dàn tā gèng shēnkè de fǎnyìng le shèhuì xiànshí. * English: Although Du Fu's Tang poetry is not as romantic as Li Bai's, it more profoundly reflects social reality. * Analysis: This sentence shows a more nuanced discussion, comparing the styles of two major poets and highlighting the diversity within **唐诗**. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Not All Ancient Poetry is "Tang Shi":** A common mistake for beginners is to use **唐诗 (Táng shī)** as a catch-all term for any classical Chinese poetry. This is incorrect. **唐诗** specifically refers to poetry from the Tang Dynasty. For poetry from the Song Dynasty, you would say `宋词 (Sòng cí)`, and for earlier poetry, you might use the broader term `古诗 (gǔ shī)` (ancient poetry). * **"False Friend" - Poetry:** While **唐诗** translates to "Tang poetry," the cultural weight is far greater than the general English word "poetry." In many Western contexts, poetry can be seen as a niche interest. In China, **唐诗** is mainstream cultural heritage, a source of national pride known and loved by people from all walks of life. * **Incorrect Usage Example:** * //Incorrect:// 我昨天晚上写了一首**唐诗**。 (Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshàng xiěle yī shǒu **Tángshī**.) * //Meaning:// I wrote a Tang poem last night. * **Why it's wrong:** **唐诗** is a historical category. You cannot write an authentic "Tang poem" in the 21st century, any more than a modern English writer can write a new "Elizabethan play." You can, however, write a poem //in the style of// Tang poetry. The correct way to express this would be: "我写了一首仿唐诗风格的诗 (Wǒ xiěle yī shǒu fǎng Tángshī fēnggé de shī)" - "I wrote a poem imitating the style of Tang poetry." ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[宋词]] (Sòng cí) - Song Dynasty Lyrics. The major poetic genre that flourished after the Tang Dynasty, often set to music and characterized by lines of varying lengths. * [[李白]] (Lǐ Bái) - Li Bai. One of the two most celebrated Tang poets, known as the "Poet Immortal" (诗仙 shīxiān) for his romantic, imaginative, and free-spirited verse. * [[杜甫]] (Dù Fǔ) - Du Fu. The other titan of Tang poetry, known as the "Poet Sage" (诗圣 shīshèng) for his technical mastery and his profound, realistic poems about human suffering and social injustice. * [[古诗]] (gǔ shī) - Ancient Poetry. A broader term for classical Chinese poetry, of which **唐诗** is the most famous sub-category. * [[诗经]] (Shī Jīng) - The Book of Odes. The oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry, dating from the 11th to 7th centuries BCE. It is the foundational text of the Chinese poetic tradition. * [[意境]] (yìjìng) - Artistic Mood/Conception. A crucial aesthetic concept in all Chinese arts, referring to the synthesis of scene and feeling that creates a unique, profound atmosphere. **唐诗** is often praised for its masterful creation of **意境**. * [[绝句]] (juéjù) - Quatrain. A popular form of **唐诗** consisting of four lines, usually with five or seven characters per line, and a strict rhyme and tonal scheme. * [[律诗]] (lǜshī) - Regulated Verse. A more complex form of **唐诗** consisting of eight lines, also with five or seven characters per line, and even stricter rules of parallelism and tonal patterns. * [[背诵]] (bèisòng) - To recite from memory. The verb most commonly associated with learning **唐诗** in China.