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 bỏ), 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,
Nơi chốn nghe đề điểu.
Hôm qua mưa gió thanh,
Hoa lạc biết nhiều ít.
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 mời đi vào thự, chốc lát Huyền Tông đến, hạo nhiên nặc dưới giường, duy lấy thật đối, đế hỉ rằng: “Trẫm nghe một thân mà không thấy cũng, gì sợ mà nặc?” Chiếu hạo nhiên ra. Đế hỏi này thơ, hạo nhiên lại bái, tự tụng việc làm, đến “Bất tài minh chủ bỏ” chi câu, đế rằng: “Khanh không cầu sĩ, mà trẫm chưa chắc bỏ khanh, nề hà vu ta?” Nhân trả về.
- ^Jaroslav Průšekand Zbigniew Słupski, eds., Dictionary of Oriental Literatures: East Asia (Charles Tuttle, 1978): 116.
- ^abWen, Yiduo(1941).Đường thơ 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 năm đầu · ngô liên Mạnh Hạo Nhiên”: Ngô liên Mạnh Hạo Nhiên, thụ nâu tức đêm dài. Phú thơ hà tất nhiều, thường thường lăng bào tạ. Thanh giang không cũ cá, mưa xuân dư cây mía. Mỗi vọng Đông Nam vân, lệnh người mấy bi tra.
- ^Lý Bạch, đường, “Tặng Mạnh Hạo Nhiên”: Ngô ái Mạnh phu tử, phong lưu thiên hạ nghe. Hồng nhan bỏ hiên miện, bạc đầu nằm tùng vân. Say nguyệt tần trung thánh, mê hoa không sự quân. Núi cao an nhưng ngưỡng, đồ này ấp thanh phân.
- ^Trương giới, Tống,Tuổi hàn đường thi thoại,"Luận Mạnh Tương Dương thơ":Luận thi văn lúc này lấy văn thể vì trước, cảnh sách vi hậu. Nếu nhưng lấy này cảnh sách mà thôi, tắc “Phong lạc Ngô giang lãnh”, há đủ để định ưu khuyết? Mạnh Hạo Nhiên “Hơi vân đạm sông ngân, sơ giọt mưa ngô đồng” chi câu, Đông Dã tập trung chưa chắc có cũng. Nhiên sử hạo nhiên đương lui to lớn địch, như thành nam liên cú, cũng tất vây rồi. Tử chiêm vân: “Hạo nhiên thơ như nội kho pháp rượu, lại là thượng tôn chi quy mô, nhưng thiếu rượu mới ngươi.” Này luận tẫn chi.
- ^Nghiêm vũ, Tống,Thương lãng thi thoại · thơ biện:Đại để thiền đạo duy ở diệu ngộ, thơ nói cũng ở diệu ngộ, thả Mạnh Tương Dương học lực hạ Hàn lui xa gì, mà này thơ độc ra lui chi phía trên giả, một mặt diệu ngộ mà thôi. Duy ngộ nãi vì đương hành, nãi vì bản 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.
