Shih+Poetry

= Shih Poetry =
 * China's most dominant form of poetry from the second to the twelfth centuries A.D. was shih poetry. Shih poetry in it's untranslated Chinese form has an even number of line in which the end of even numbered lines rhyme. Each line has the same number of words, and therefore, the same number of syllables. Also, each set of two lines creates a couplet in which the lines have similar meaning and structure.**

=**New Style V. Old Style**= Due to the evolution of shih poetry taking place over a long period of time, two main forms of shih poetry arose. "Old Style," or Gushi, is a more ancient form in which the rules were more flexible; poems could be any length as long as they were written in couplets with the same number of words in each line. "New Style" or Jintishi is stricter on the rules. All poems in this style must have exactly eight lines and the middle couples must be parallel in both meaning and structure, among other complicated rules.

= **New Style:** =
 * The video below shows the poem "The Moon at the Fortified Pass" being read aloud in Chinese. Can you hear the poetry in the words?**


 * Below the video is an English translation.**

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**The Moon at the Fortified Pass**

 * By Li Po**
 * translated by Lin Yutang**

The bright moon lifts from the Mountain of Heaven In an infinite haze of cloud and sea, And the wind, that has come a thousand miles, Beats at the Jade Pass battlements.... China marches its men down Baideng Road While Tartar troops peer across blue waters of the bay.... And since not one battle famous in history Sent all its fighters back again, The soldiers turn round, looking toward the border, And think of home, with wistful eyes, And of those tonight in the upper chambers Who toss and sigh and cannot rest.

= **Old Style** =
 * The following poem is an example of Old Style shih poetry.**

**I Built My House Near Where Others Dwell**
**By T'ao Ch'ien** **(****translated by William Acker)**

I built my house near where others dwell, And yet there is no clamor of carriages and horses. You ask of me "How can this be so?" "When the heart is far the place of itself is distant." I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge, And gaze afar towards the southern mountains. The mountain air is fine at evening of the day And flying birds return together homewards. Within these things there is a hint of Truth, But when I start to tell it, I cannot find the words

= **Famous Shih Poets** =

T’ao Ch’ien

 * A.D 365-427**
 * He lived in a time of turmoil in China. In his life China was divided by foreign rule. His poetry, however, shows people how to live peacefully in a chaotic world.**

Wang Wei

 * 706-761**
 * He was a master of the four line new style. He was known for his simple words, is elaborate descriptions and his meditative tone while reading his poetry.**

**Li Po**

 * 701-762**
 * Li Po is credited for being a supreme master of Chinese poetry. He is known for being graceful and free-spirited, as well as having a lyrical style.**

**Tu Fu**

 * 712-770**
 * Tu Fu was more contemporary than Li Po, and was little known and under appreciated in his own lifetime. He came to be known as an excellent craftsman of shih poetry.**

**Po Chu-i**

 * 772-846**
 * He was the son of Tu Fu. His poem were very easy to understand so anyone could read them. He is still one of the most famous poets of shih poetry.**

= **Effects of Translation** = When translating from Chinese to English the structure of shin poetry is destroyed. Especially in the case of New Style shih poetry where the structure is as strict as it is with every line have to be the same length with same number of words and the middle two lines have the same structure which can not be shown with translation. The rhythm and rhyme scheme is also lost in translation. See the form below to see how much influence the translator has on the poem.