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This web site is dedicated to the preservation of the spirit of Tang poetry.

Li Bai and Du Fu

More Tang Poets

Read poems by the greatest masters of Tang poetry translated by Lan Hua


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The Adventures of Monkey King

Have you ever heard of the Adventures of Monkey King? A great classic now available in a new translation from Lan Hua

The Gan Yu

Chen Zi'ang is one of the early masters of Tang poetry. Now you can read some of his poems translated for the first time into English by Lan Hua

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This is one of those fine poems that manages to succinctly describe both an interior and exterior landscape. I have discussed this poem with a friend of mine who is much better versed in Tang poetry than I. He maintains that it is just a landscape poem but I can't read it - or translate it -- in such a limited way.


Valley of Birdsong
by Wang Wei


In idleness deep
As the Olea blossoms fall
It's a peacful silent night
In these empty hills

Until surprised by the rising moon
A mountain bird calls
And then the song of spring
Fills the valley
All night long







More poems by Wang Wei translated by Lan Hua: