This course explores various styles of traditional and modern Chinese poetry from the archaic period to the 21st century, with an emphasis on the range of ways in which poetry has been implicated, to a degree unknown in the West, in the political, spiritual, and aesthetic movements in China over the last three millennia. Topics include "The Book of Songs," "Nineteen Ancient Poems," the "Music Bureau" ballads, Six Dynasties poetry, the great Tang masters, the Song lyrics, women poets, and religious poets. Although some Chinese characters will be introduced in the unit on calligraphy, no knowledge of Chinese is required; all readings will be in English translation. |