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8th Century

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(East Asia)

Wang Wei

Timeline (699? - 761)

Poems by Wang Wei
Books - Links

Wang Wei, Wang Wei poetry, Buddhist, Buddhist poetry, poetry, poetry, Taoist poetry

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Wang Wei is considered to be one of the three great poets of the Tang Period, along with Li Po and Tu Fu. Wang Wei was also a great painter of the era.

Wang Wei's father was a local government official, and his mother was from a distinguished literary family.

Although Wang Wei's poetry speaks of the Buddhist and Taoist ideals of retreat and life amidst nature, he served most of his life at the Tang court. Through his work, he gained wealth, and donated generously to Buddhist monasteries. Like many government officials, he created a large country estate, to which he returned whenever possible.

His wife died when he was still a young man. In 750, after a full career at the court, and following the death of his mother, Wang Wei retired to meditate and write and paint.

In the late 750's, Wang Wei was captured by rebels of the An Lushan uprising -- and he joined their rebellion. When Imperial control was restored, Wang Wei was briefly imprisoned for his collaboration, but he was officially rehabilitated and returned to government service until his death in 761.

Poems by Wang Wei

	Bamboo Cottage
	Cooling Off
	Deer Fence
	Drifting on the Lake
	Fields and Gardens by the River Qi
	Living in the Mountain on an Autumn Night
	My Cottage at Deep South Mountain
	Stone Gate Temple in the Blue Field Mountains
	Temple Tree Path

Recommended Books

	An Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911, Translated by Stephen Owen Amazon.com
	The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhala Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton Amazon.com
	Sunflower Splendor: Three Thousand Years of Chinese Poetry, Edited by Wu-chi Liu / Edited by Irving Yucheng Lo Amazon.com
	Three Chinese Poets: Translations of Poems by Wang Wei, Li Bai, and Du Fu, Translated by Vikram Seth Amazon.com
	To Touch the Sky: Poems of Mystical, Spiritual & Metaphysical Light, Translated by Willis Barnstone Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Asian Topics: Wang Wei http://www.columbia.edu/itc/eacp/asiasite/topics/index.html?topic=WangWei+subtopic=Intro Brief introduction & overview of Wang Wei and his poetry.
	Wang Wei http://www.chinese-poems.com/wang.html Several poems by Wang Wei in both literal, as well as literary English, along with the Chinese originals.
	Translated Chinese Poetry: Poems by Wang Wei http://www.shigeku.org/xlib/lingshidao/hanshi/wangwei.htm Several poems by Wang Wei in English.
	Poem Hunter: Wang Wei http://www.poemhunter.com/wang-wei/poems/poet-20172/page-1/ Several poems by Wang Wei in English.
	Poetry Portal: Wang Wei http://www.poetry-portal.com/poets36.html A good, but brief biography of Wang Wei.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Wang Wei

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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the Poetry Chaikhana