moved to Xiamu Mountain near Huzhou to live as a hermit and it is here that he composed his "Mountain Poems" (Shan-shih), one-hundred and eighty-four verses mostly dealing with life in the mountains. In the preface to the Mountain poems, Shiwu writes: Here in the woods I have lots of free time. When I don't spend it sleeping, I enjoy composing gathas. But with paper and ink so scarce, I haven't thought of writing them down. Now some Zen monks have asked me to record what I find of interest on this mountain. I've sat here quietly and let my brush fly. Suddenly, this volume is full. I close it and sent it back down with the admonition not to try singing these poems. Only if you sit on them will they do you any good. The opening poem of the Shan-Shi describes the natural setting of his hermitage: I made my home west of the Sha where water fills Sky Lake and the moon fills the river people are frightened when they see the heights but once they arrive they know the trail dried snail shells on rock walls fresh tiger tracks in the mud my door stays open when spring days grow long when paulownias bloom and cicadas call Many of his poems deal with the mundane facets of everyday hermit life. I don't stop moving all day long before sunset I'm done back home I wash off my feet and sleep too tired to notice the mountain moon's passage birds wake me up from a distant grove the red sun's disc shines through the pines today and tomorrow don't differ the years are all the same. Some of the poems also focus on Zen Buddhist philosophical ideals like impermanence and non-attachment. This body's existence is like a bubble's may as well accept what happens events and hopes seldom agree but who can step back doesn't worry we blossom and fade like flowers gather and part like clouds worldly thoughts I forgot long ago relaxing all day on a peak. Reception American translator Red Pine traveled to the Zhongnan Mountains and translated Shiwu's poems into English. See also Chinese poetry Classical Chinese poetry Hanshan (poet) Notes External links Mountain Poems Zen Readings Hermitary's article on Stonehouse 1272 births 1352 deaths Yuan dynasty poets Chan Buddhist monks Zen Buddhism writers Chinese Zen Buddhists Writers from Suzhou People from Changshu