Meng Haoran(Chinese:Mạnh hạo nhiên;Wade–Giles:Meng Hao-jan;689/691–740) was a Chinese poet and a major literary figure of theTang dynasty.He was somewhat an older contemporary ofWang Wei,Li BaiandDu Fu.Despite his brief pursuit of an official career, Meng Haoran spent most of his life in and around his hometownXiangyangof the Hubei Province living like a hermit, while creating poems inspired by its landscapes and milieu.[1]
Meng Haoran | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mạnh hạo nhiên | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Meng Haoran. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 689/691 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 740 (aged 50–51) 740 (aged 48–49) Xiangyang, Hubei, China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Poet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Meng Yifu (Mạnh nghi phủ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | Mạnh hạo nhiên | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Meng Haoran was a major influence on both contemporary and subsequent poets of the Tang dynasty due to his excellency inShanshui poetryand his composed, independent spirit.[1][2]Meng was prominently featured in theQing dynasty(and subsequently frequently republished) poetry anthologyThree Hundred Tang Poems,having the fifth largest number of poems selected for a total of fifteen, exceeded only byDu Fu,Li Bai,Wang Wei,andLi Shangyin.These poems of Meng Haoran were made available in English translations byWitter BynnerandKiang Kanghuwith the publication ofThe Jade Mountainin 1920. In 2021, a complete translation of all Meng's poems by Paul W. Kroll was published asThe Poetry of Meng Haoran,which also contains an introduction of Meng's life and historical contexts of his poetry.[3]
TheThree Hundred Tang Poemsalso collected two poems by Li Bai addressed to Meng Haoran, one in his praise and one written in farewell.
Biography
edit
One of the major poets during a peak era of the Tang Poetry, known as theHigh Tang,Meng Haoran was born inXiangyang District, Xiangfan,south of theHan River,in the modern province ofHubei.He remained strongly attached to this area and its scenery throughout his life.
He had the desire to pursue a career in politics in his youth, but never successes in securing an official position.[1]As recorded by theNew Book of Tang,he was recommended by his good friendWang WeitoEmperor Xuanzong,who granted him an audience during which he recited his poem. However, one line therein angered the emperor: "The untalented the wise lord discards" (Bất tài minh chủ khí), which Xuanzong interpreted as a sarcastic complaint for not employing him sooner in the imperial government. Thus, he was sent away from the palace.[4]He received his only quasi-civil service position as an advisor toZhang Jiulingthree years before his death, but resigned after less than a year due to his aloofness and pride.[1]He lived in the Xiangyang area almost all his life, except for a brief trip to the capital city ofChang'anwhere he was hosted by Wang Wei in 728. The landscape, history and legends of his hometown are the subjects of a majority of his poems. Some particularly prominent landmarks include Nanshan (or South Mountain, his family seat) and Lumen Shan, a temple site, where he briefly lived in retreat.
Works
editMeng Haoran is often bracketed withWang Wei,due to the friendship they shared and their prominence aslandscape poets.[5]In fact, Meng composed several poems about Wang and their parting. While Wang's work focused on the natural world, in particular the solitude and reprieve it granted from human life along with the scale of the natural world, Meng's poetry focuses more on foreground details and human life, such as returning villagers waiting at the ferry crossing, fishermen, or (often unseen) mountain hermits dwelling in religious seclusion.
Meng's poetic language was as simple as everyday conversation, yet this simplicity did not diminish their careful craftsmanship. Critics have noted that Meng's artistry resides in his adeptness at transforming ordinary daily experiences into enduring poetry.[6][7]
Meng's quatrain "Spring Morning "(Xuân hiểu) is one of the best known Tang poems, partly due to its inclusion as the opening piece of theQian-Jia Shi(Poems of a Thousand Masters), a beginner's anthology of verses widely adopted in elementary curriculum since the lateSong dynasty.[2]
Xuân miên bất giác hiểu,
Xử xử văn đề điểu.
Dạ lai phong vũ thanh,
Hoa lạc tri đa thiếu.
In spring slumber, I am unaware of daybreak,
Though everywhere I hear the tweet of birds.
Last night came the sound of wind and rain;
Who knows how many flowers must have fallen?
Reception and Legacy
editMeng was highly regarded by his contemporaries, notably bothLi BaiandDu Fuhad written poems in his praise. According to Du Fu, Meng's poetry surpassed those ofBao ZhaoandXie Lingyunin quality.[8]Li Bai's tribute, on the other hand, honored Meng's noble character and independent spirit.[9]Song dynastycritics held that Meng's poetry excelled in creativity but lacked depth and breadth in its topics.Su Shilikened Meng's artistry to that of a skilled wine maker with supreme craftsmanship but a shortage of ingredients.[10][11]20th century scholarWen Yiduoaligned with Li Bai in his assessment of Meng, praising his poetry as an genuine expression of his serene demeanor and hermit lifestyle.[6]
The themes and styles of Meng Haoran'sShanshui poetryhelped to set a convention followed by younger poets, such as Wang Wei.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdLongxi, Zhang (2022-08-30).A History of Chinese Literature(1 ed.). London: Routledge. pp. 109–120.doi:10.4324/9781003164173.ISBN978-1-003-16417-3.
- ^abMair, Victor H. (2001).The Columbia history of Chinese literature.New York: Columbia University press. p. 294.ISBN978-0-231-10984-0.
- ^Kroll, Paul W. (2021-07-05). Owen, Stephen (ed.).The Poetry of Meng Haoran.De Gruyter.doi:10.1515/9783110734690.ISBN978-3-11-073469-0.
- ^《 tân đường thư · văn nghệ hạ 》: ( vương ) duy tư yêu nhập nội thự, nga nhi huyền tông chí, hạo nhiên nặc sàng hạ, duy dĩ thật đối, đế hỉ viết: “Trẫm văn kỳ nhân nhi vị kiến dã, hà cụ nhi nặc?” Chiếu hạo nhiên xuất. Đế vấn kỳ thi, hạo nhiên tái bái, tự tụng sở vi, chí “Bất tài minh chủ khí” chi cú, đế viết: “Khanh bất cầu sĩ, nhi trẫm vị thường khí khanh, nại hà vu ngã?” Nhân phóng hoàn.
- ^Jaroslav Průšekand Zbigniew Słupski, eds., Dictionary of Oriental Literatures: East Asia (Charles Tuttle, 1978): 116.
- ^abWen, Yiduo(1941).Đường thi tạp luận (Tang Shi Za Lun)[Discussions on Tang Poetry] (in Chinese). Shanxiguji Chubanshe (published 2001). pp. 23–27.ISBN9787805984667.
- ^Zhang, Longxi (2022).A History of Chinese Literature.London: Routledge. p. 110.ISBN978-1-003-16417-3.
- ^Đỗ phủ, đường, “Khiển hưng ngũ thủ · ngô liên mạnh hạo nhiên”: Ngô liên mạnh hạo nhiên, thụ hạt tức trường dạ. Phú thi hà tất đa, vãng vãng lăng bào tạ. Thanh giang không cựu ngư, xuân vũ dư cam giá. Mỗi vọng đông nam vân, lệnh nhân kỉ bi tra.
- ^Lý bạch, đường, “Tặng mạnh hạo nhiên”: Ngô ái mạnh phu tử, phong lưu thiên hạ văn. Hồng nhan khí hiên miện, bạch thủ ngọa tùng vân. Túy nguyệt tần trung thánh, mê hoa bất sự quân. Cao sơn an khả ngưỡng, đồ thử ấp thanh phân.
- ^Trương giới, tống,Tuế hàn đường thi thoại,"Luận mạnh tương dương thi":Luận thi văn đương dĩ văn thể vi tiên, cảnh sách vi hậu. Nhược đãn thủ kỳ cảnh sách nhi dĩ, tắc “Phong lạc ngô giang lãnh”, khởi túc dĩ định ưu liệt? Mạnh hạo nhiên “Vi vân đạm hà hán, sơ vũ tích ngô đồng” chi cú, đông dã tập trung vị tất hữu dã. Nhiên sử hạo nhiên đương thối chi đại địch, như thành nam liên cú, diệc tất khốn hĩ. Tử chiêm vân: “Hạo nhiên thi như nội khố pháp tửu, khước thị thượng tôn chi quy mô, đãn khiếm tửu tài nhĩ.” Thử luận tẫn chi.
- ^Nghiêm vũ, tống,Thương lãng thi thoại · thi biện:Đại để thiền đạo duy tại diệu ngộ, thi đạo diệc tại diệu ngộ, thả mạnh tương dương học lực hạ hàn thối chi viễn thậm, nhi kỳ thi độc xuất thối chi chi thượng giả, nhất vị diệu ngộ nhi dĩ. Duy ngộ nãi vi đương hành, nãi vi bổn sắc.
Further reading
edit- Kroll, Paul W. (2021).The Poetry of Meng Haoran
.De Gruyter Mouton. - Bryant, Daniel Joseph (1977).The high T'ang poet Meng Hao-jan: studies in biography and textual history(PhD). Vancouver: University of British Columbia.hdl:2429/21504.Contains English translations of all known poems by Meng Haoran.
- Nienhauser, William H (ed.).The Indiana Companion to Traditional Chinese Literature.Indiana University Press 1986.ISBN0-253-32983-3
- Ma Maoyuan,"Meng Haoran".Encyclopedia of China(Chinese Literature Edition), 1st ed.
