cui ruide Posted September 28, 2006 at 08:59 PM Report Posted September 28, 2006 at 08:59 PM I'll be going to Hangzhou in the spring, and I need to decided a 1 on 1 (student and professor) topic to pursue for a class. I'm a huge fan of Chinese poetry and have already taken a couple courses in translation dealing with older Chinese lit (Book of Songs to pre-20th), but I've never really studied 20th Cen. lit. One topic idea I'm mullying over is 20th Cen. Chinese Lit. with an emphasis on May 4th poets and the contemporary(?) Misty Poets. Has anyone had any experience with these groups or read much? What do you think of them? Quote
Lu Posted September 29, 2006 at 03:00 PM Report Posted September 29, 2006 at 03:00 PM I haven't read that much, but more than most people, I suppose. Misty poetry (朦胧诗歌) is contemporary (that is, of after the CR), they came up in the 1980s. I think that they were actually the first contemporary Chinese poets, contemporary Chinese poetry started with them, and many later poets reacted to them in one way or the other. Some of the Misty poets are still writing (and Jintian still exists), but as a movement Misty poetry doesn't exist anymore. Some poets: 北岛，舒婷，芒克，杨炼，顾城。Bei Dao and Mang Ke had founded 今天, a magazine for new poetry, in 1978, and that started it off. The poetry was considered 'misty', because the critics, used to very clear CR poetry, didn't understand it. To a westerner used to much more obscure poetry, it's actually not so misty. Here is some info about Bei Dao, and here is another one of his poems. I tried to find Yang Lian's 'Wild Goose Pagoda' but couldn't find it on the net; anyway, that's a good poem too (although I'm not sure if it's Misty, strictly speaking). Personally I like some of the Misty poetry quite a lot. It's very different than Song and Tang poetry, much more western (modern Chinese poetry was heavily influenced by the west, contemporary poetry followed that trend). I hope this is useful for you, if you want to know anything else, just ask. Quote
gato Posted September 30, 2006 at 12:13 AM Report Posted September 30, 2006 at 12:13 AM Here is a great site with a mega collection of Chinese poetry, including modern. http://www.poets.cn/xinshi/index.htm I like 徐志摩 and 戴望舒, both from the pre-1949 period. http://www.poets.cn/xinshi/xuzhimo.htm 徐志摩诗选 我不知道风 －－－ 我不知道风 是在那一个方向吹 －－－ 我是在梦中， 在梦的轻波里依洄。 我不知道风 是在那一个方向吹 －－－ 我是在梦中， 她的温存，我的迷醉。 我不知道风 是在那一个方向吹 －－－ 我是在梦中， 甜美是梦里的光辉。 我不知道风 是在那一个方向吹 －－我是在梦中， 她的负心，我的伤悲。 我不知道风 是在那一个方向吹 －－－ 我是在梦中， 在梦的悲哀里心碎！ 我不知道风 是在那一个方向吹 －－－ 我是在梦中， 黯淡是梦里的光辉！ http://www.poets.cn/xinshi/daiwangshu.htm 戴望舒诗选 http://www.cctv.com/program/dssgsw/20030418/101574.shtml 戴望舒 雨巷 撑着油纸伞，独自 彷徨在悠长、悠长 又寂寥的雨巷 我希望逢着 一个丁香一样地 结着愁怨的姑娘 她是有 丁香一样的颜色 丁香一样的芬芳 丁香一样的忧愁 在雨中哀怨 哀怨又彷徨 她彷徨在这寂寥的雨巷 撑着油纸伞 像我一样 像我一样地 默默彳亍着 冷漠、凄婉、又惆怅 她静默地走近 走近 又投出 叹息一般的眼光 她飘过 像梦一般地 像梦一般地凄婉迷茫 像梦中飘过 一支丁香地 我身旁飘过这女郎 她静默地远了 远了 到了颓圮的篱墙 走尽这雨巷 在雨的哀曲里 消了她的颜色 散了她的芬芳 消散了 甚至她的 叹息般的眼光 丁香般的惆怅 撑着油纸伞 独自 彷徨在悠长 悠长 又寂寥的雨巷 我希望飘过 一个丁香一样地 结着愁怨的姑娘 Quote
hkkevin Posted September 30, 2006 at 01:37 PM Report Posted September 30, 2006 at 01:37 PM I don't know modern poetry, but it has become a very hot topic in China in recent days, after a new stream of poetry is released. A poet, Zhao Li-hua released her latest poems , which are written almost like a daily conversation. "Huh, Can we call it a poem?" Most said. It's not surprised to see her new try, but it really surprised me that such topic can catch a wide attention from the newspaper in China. see her blog: http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/zhaolihua Quote
natalie Posted October 7, 2006 at 08:18 AM Report Posted October 7, 2006 at 08:18 AM Good morning to you all, Can you please translate these poems into English? I am so curious... Poetry is my oxygen... I am only beginning my 2nd year of Chinese studies but so eager to read Chinese poetry... So if you may translate... I'll embrace you from afar! This is the Jewish new year so I'll wish you all a happy new year! ~ Natalie ~ Quote
gato Posted October 7, 2006 at 10:47 AM Report Posted October 7, 2006 at 10:47 AM At your request, here is a rough translation of the first one by Xu Zhimo. I Don't Know the Wind (我不知道风) Xu Zhimo (徐志摩, 1897-1931) --- I don't know the wind Is blowing in which way --- I am lost in my dreams Riding the waves of my dreams. I don't know the wind Is blowing in which way I am lost in my dreams Her warmth, my intoxication. I don't know the wind Is blowing in which way I am lost in my dreams Sweetness the light of my dreams. I don't know the wind Is blowing in which way I am lost in my dreams Her indifference, my sorrow. I don't know the wind Is blowing in which way I am lost in my dreams Heartbroken in the sadness of my dreams. I don't know the wind Is blowing in which way I am lost in my dreams Darkness the light of my dreams. Quote
gato Posted October 7, 2006 at 11:45 AM Report Posted October 7, 2006 at 11:45 AM The second one by Dai Wangshu is much harder to translate because it's much more dependent on its rhyme. Here's a very rough attempt. Rainy Lane (雨巷) Dai Wangshu (戴望舒, 1905-1950) Holding an oilpaper umbrella, alone Wandering through a long And lonesome rainy lane, I hope to meet A clove-like girl Bearing of melancholy. She has The same color as a clove The same smell as a clove The same worries as a clove Forlorn in the rain Forlorn and unsure. She wanders through this lonesome lane Holding an oilpaper umbrella Like me Like me Walking silently Cold, sad, and melancholy She quietly walks near Walks near, and gives A glance like a sigh She floats by Like a dream Sad and mysterious like a dream. Like a clove In a dream, The lady floats past me. She quietly gets further and further To the collapsed bamboo wall To the end of the rainy lane. In the requiem of the rain, Her color is washed off Her smell dissipated, Even her Sigh-like glance is lost. Holding an oilpaper umbrella, alone Wandering through a long And lonesome rainy lane. I hope to float by A clove-like girl Bearing of melancholy. Quote
natalie Posted June 1, 2007 at 02:34 PM Report Posted June 1, 2007 at 02:34 PM Thank you so much! so moving... Will love ever be sadness free?... Quote
HashiriKata Posted June 2, 2007 at 04:38 PM Report Posted June 2, 2007 at 04:38 PM Will love ever be sadness free?...But then you may feel love is not quite love without sadness... () Quote
gato Posted June 3, 2007 at 01:57 AM Report Posted June 3, 2007 at 01:57 AM Oh, it's been a year. How was your of Chinese studying? Quote
natalie Posted June 3, 2007 at 05:11 AM Report Posted June 3, 2007 at 05:11 AM Hello! I am about to finish my 2nd year, and I keep feeling that the only way to really know Chinese is to be in China... Besides, I study the 繁體字 because I find them more beautiful... and sometimes I think it's a problem (but right now I'm quite whole with this decision...) So.. have you been to China? How will you sum up your studies so far? meanwhile, have a wonderful day! Natalie Quote
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