7 Must-Read Chinese Poems

Chinese poetry is a diverse art form with a long history spanning over 3000 years. It is characterized by a highly structured and rhythmic style, often featuring strict rules for rhyme and meter. The themes of Chinese poetry are wide-ranging, including love, nature, politics, and spirituality.

Some of the most famous Chinese poets include Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei, and Bai Juyi, who are known forcapturinge the essence of their subjects with vivid imagery and emotional depth. Their works have had a lasting influence on Chinese literature and culture and are still studied and appreciated today.

Throughout its history, Chinese poetry has undergone various changes and adaptations, reflecting different eras’ social and cultural developments. From the Tang dynasty’s Golden Age of poetry to the modern era, Chinese poetry continues to be a powerful and evocative form of artistic expression.

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

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Before The Cask of Wine

by Li Bai

‘Before The Cask of Wine’ is a beautiful lyric that emphasizes enjoying one’s youthful hours to the fullest. As one can’t savor those moments in old age.

This poem by Li Bai is a great example of Chinese poetry. It reflects many of the hallmarks of Chinese poetry, including a focus on nature, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the passing of time. The poem's imagery is vivid and powerful, and its language is elegant and evocative. It also explores themes of celebration, new life, and passion, which are recurring themes in Chinese poetry. Li Bai is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in Chinese history, and his works continue to be read and appreciated by people around the world.

The spring wind comes from the east and quickly passes,

Leaving faint ripples in the wine of the golden bowl.

The flowers fall, flake after flake, myriads together.

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All You Have is a Country

by Ha Jin

“All You Have is A Country” by Ha Jin explores patriotism and how it can be negatively ingrained into someone’s personality.

This poem is a significant work of poetry that addresses themes of identity, culture, and humanity, making it relevant and valuable for those interested in Chinese poetry. The poem addresses China in a way that will be unfamiliar to those who have spent time reading poetry by Chinese poets. Its critique of China is clear and is seen no more directly than when the poet compares someone longing for China to a grain of rice falling through the country's personified teeth.

You are so poor that all you have is a country.

Whenever you open your mouth

you talk about the country

to which you can no longer return.

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The Jewel Stairs’ Grievance (translated by Ezra Pound)

by Li Bai

‘The Jewel Stairs’ Grievance’ by Li Bai captures the lovelorn yearning of a woman waiting for her lover late at night amidst scenic beauty.

Li Bai is one of the most widely read poets from the Tang Dynasty, both in China and throughout the world. Thanks to translations such as this, their work has been introduced to even those who don’t speak or read Chinese. Yet, as is the case with Ezra Pound’s translation, an appreciation of Li Bai’s poetry should be supplemented by other material. This poem should be regarded as a very good example of Chinese poetry.

The jewelled steps are already quite white with dew,

It is so late that the dew soaks my gauze stockings,

And I let down the crystal curtain

And watch the moon through the clear autumn.

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On The Birth of a Son

by Su Tung-Po

Su Tung-Po’s ‘On The Birth of a Son’ explores the place of intelligence in society, examining how it leads to unhappiness rather than joy.

This short but impactful work explores themes of ambition, intelligence, and happiness. The poem is rooted in Chinese culture and values. In traditional Chinese society, there was great emphasis on education, particularly in pursuing government positions. The poem reflects this cultural context by exploring the theme of intelligence and ambition, which were highly valued traits in Chinese society.

Families when a child is born

Hope it will turn out intelligent.

I, through intelligence

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The Solitude of Night

by Li Bai

‘The Solitude of Night’ by Li Bai portrays the speaker’s solitude in the aftermath of a wine party at night.

Li Bai, also known as Li Po, is considered one of the greatest poets in Chinese history, and his works hold significant weight in Chinese literature, particularly classical Chinese poetry. Interestingly, this poem highlights his fixation with the moon and river, somewhat relating to the legend about his death wherein he dies of drowning as he fell off his boat while trying to embrace the moon's reflection in the river.

It was at a wine party—

I lay in a drowse, knowing it not.

The blown flowers fell and filled my lap.

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Three with the Moon and his Shadow

by Li Bai

‘Three with the Moon and His Shadow’ by Li Bai contemplates solitude, friendship, and transcendental connections.

This poem is representative of his unique style and thematic concerns, which set him apart from other poets of his time in China. While many other Chinese poems of the era focused on themes of nature, philosophy, and social commentary, Li Bai's poetry often explored personal emotions, individual experiences, and imaginative imagery. His poems showcased a sense of spontaneity and freedom with a less formal and more personal tone. This distinguished him as a prominent figure in Chinese poetry and contributed to his lasting influence on subsequent generations of poets.

With a jar of wine I sit by the flowering trees.

I drink alone, and where are my friends?

Ah, the moon above looks down on me;

I call and lift my cup to his brightness.

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Taking Leave of a Friend

by Li Bai

Li Bai’s ‘Taking Leave of a Friend’ uses different literary techniques to convey the themes of transience, nature, longing, and friendship.

This Li Bai poem is regarded as one of the most well-known and beloved poems in Chinese literature due to its emotional resonance and simplicity. It is representative of the Tang Dynasty's lyrical and meditative style, which often focused on themes of friendship, nature, and how short-lived life is. Compared to other poems from China, Li Bai's work is unique in its use of lucid imagery, personal reflections, and simplicity of language that enables a wide range of readers to relate to it.

Blue mountains lie beyond the north wall;

Round the city's eastern side flows the white water.

Here we part, friend, once forever.

You go ten thousand miles, drifting away

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7 Must-Read Chinese Poems

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7 Must-Read Chinese Poems

Before The Cask of Wine

by Li Bai

All You Have is a Country

by Ha Jin

The Jewel Stairs’ Grievance (translated by Ezra Pound)

by Li Bai

On The Birth of a Son

by Su Tung-Po

The Solitude of Night

by Li Bai

Three with the Moon and his Shadow

by Li Bai

Taking Leave of a Friend

by Li Bai

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