Yuan Hongdao
Poems
THE CAPITAL
Bright are the city walls of the capital;
Red-robed officials shout on broad streets.
There is a white-headed destitute scholar;
Hanging from his mule's saddle, sheaves of poems.
Clasping his calling card, he knocks on doors for work;
The gate keepers smirk at one another.
Ten try and ten fail;
Walk the streets, his face is haggard.
Always fear in serving the rich;
Sorry your flattery isn't quick enough.
Over an eye a black eyepatch;
Half blind, the fellow is old!
A STRANGE PRIEST
Bought his mantle to escape draft and taxes;
Now he's the head priest amid his splendor.
Recites incantations, but sounds like a bird;
Writes Sanskrit that looks like twisted weeds.
With his begging bowl he distributes food of the spirit;
On his seat he faces the lamp of Buddha;
If you don't devote you whole body and soul,
How can there be anywhere Buddhism at all?
Prose writings
He was also a notable author of the xiaopin, a form of short literary essay.[1]
References
- ^ Mair 2001. "Introduction: The Origins and Impact of Literati Culture", paragraph 22.
Bibliography
- Chaves, Jonathan trans. Pilgrim of the Clouds, New York-Tokyo, 1978; new edition Buffalo New York: White Pine Press, 2005.
- Carpenter, Bruce E. "The Gentleman of Stones: Yüan Hung-tao", Tezukayama University Review (Tezukayama Daigaku ronshu), Nara, Japan, no. 24, 1979. ISSN 0385-7743
- ISBN 0-231-10984-9. (Amazon Kindleedition.)