Table of Contents

Chronology Introduction Poems

Promotional Information

Du Fu (712-777) has been called China's greatest poet, and some call him the greatest nonepic, nondramatic poet whose writings survive in any language. Some 1,400 of Du Fu's poems survive today, his fame resting on about one hundred that have been widely admired over the centuries. Preeminent translator Burton Watson has selected 127 poems, including those for which Du Fu is best remembered, and lesser-known works.

About the Author

Burton Watson is one of the most respected translators of Chinese and Japanese literature. He has translated Chinese and Japanese classics such as Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings, Ryo-kan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan, and The Lotus Sutra.

Reviews

"Du Fu, long regarded as China's greatest poet, excelled in a variety of lyrical forms, displaying a richness of language that incorporated formal elegance and powerful colloquialism, flowery allusion and spare, unembellished verse... Watson has selected 127 poems for this collection, including those for which Du Fu is best remembered and several lesser known works that deserve to be rediscovered." -- "Translation Review"
Du Fu, long regarded as China's greatest poet, excelled in a variety of lyrical forms, displaying a richness of language that incorporated formal elegance and powerful colloquialism, flowery allusion and spare, unembellished verse . . . Watson has selected 127 poems for this collection, including those for which Du Fu is best remembered and several lesser known works that deserve to be rediscovered.