Negative Positive
Title: Definitive translation of the finest Chinese Buddhist poet
Review: Note: I assume this book is a reissue of the 1983 Copper Canyon edition of the same title, by the same author. That book included both Chinese text and English translation.Cold Mountain (=Han Shan) was a T'ang dynasty poet who, though born wealthy and privileged, chose to live a hermit's life in the Tian Tai Mountains of southeast China. Here he meditated on Buddhist and Taoist truths: ... / it's so cold in the mountains / not just now but always / dim ridges eternally suck in snow / dark forests forever spray mist / ...Han Shan's retreat from the world of "eunuchs in purple brocade" and other affectations has inspired many translators who also distrusted the charms of civilization -- notable Gary Snyder, whose partial translation is also celebrated -- but Red Pine was the first to produce a sensitive English translation of all 307 poems. Here it is, back in print at last.
Is the review positive or negative? 