5 Steps to Reading Classical Poetry in Modern Mandarin

[Hofmann]

I made this for a class and I thought I'd share. It is aimed at people who only speak Chinese languages that don't have entering tones (such as Standard Mandarin).

The "how to read classical poetry in modern mandarin.pdf" is a printed PowerPoint presentation.

"5 steps.pdf" is a poster outlining the process.

5 steps.pdf

how to read classical poetry in modern mandarin.pdf

Edited January 29, 2010 at 09:37 PM by Hofmann
The "how to read....pdf" had an error.

[Xiwang]

Thank you for sharing this with all of us.

I plan to get more into classical poetry in the future. At the moment, I prefer the crutch of having dual language (Chinese and English) books.

The last book I bought was physically beautiful. Unfortunately, the Chinese publisher tried to force all of the English lines into rhyming couplets, which obviously rendered an accurate translation impossible. (Still, a nice gift for someone not too concerned about such things.)

[Hofmann]

Added a pdf-ized PowerPoint presentation

[Hofmann]

How come no one told me I said 獨 is 陰入? It's supposed to be 陽入. You jokers don't pay attention!

[Prodigal Son]

this is really great, thanks for posting it

[Hofmann]

Shortcut for 入聲-less Chinese speakers who use Firefox: CantoFish. You'll get the right tone 99% of the time.

Cantonese tone numbers:

1: 陰平

2: 陰上

3: 陰去

4: 陽平

5: 陽上

6: 陽去

1 with final consonant or 7: (上)陰入

3 with final consonant or 8: (下)陰入

6 with final consonant or 9: 陽入

The differentiation between 上陰入 and 下陰入 is a Cantonese thing. They were not differentiated in Middle Chinese.