Shorter Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature

Victor H. Mair is professor of Chinese languages and literature in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Among his many publications are Tun-huang Popular Narratives; Painting and Performance: Chinese Picture Recitation and Its Indian Genesis; T'ang Transformation Texts: A Study of the Buddhist Contribution to the Rise of Vernacular Fiction and Drama in China; Tao Te Ching: The Classic Book of Integrity and the Way; and (with J. P. Mallory) The Tarim Mummies.

Innovative, talented, lively and splendidly readable. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society The list of translators reads like a Who's Who of Western sinology. This is a book one can open at any page and immediately be drawn in by its great and appealing content. It is at once a reference book, with examples drawn from the huge corpus of Chinese literature, and a book which guarantees superb reading pleasure. New Asia Review A lifetime spent reading Chinese literature has produced this enormous, enthralling, canon-exploding book... Often, the funniest and liveliest entries are translated by the editor himself, who has an uncanny ability to caputre puns and rhymes even in English translation... Wonderful. Revue Bibliographique de Sinologie

• 1. FOUNDATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS Divinations and Inscriptions 1. A Late Shang Divination Record 2. A Bronze Inscription of the Western Chou 3. The Book of Changes of the Chou People 4. An Early Commentary on the Classic of Changes Philosophy Thought and Religion 5. Attributed to Kuan Chung, Kuan Tzu Duties of the Student 6. Anonymous, Confucian Analects, Book 2 7. Meng K'o, Mencius, Bull Mountain and Fish and Bear's Paws 8. Chuang Chou, Chuang Tzu, Chapter 17 and other passages 9. Attributed to Lao Tzu, The Classic Book of Integrity and the Way: Tao te ching 10. Attributed to Lieh Yu. -k'ou, Lieh Tzu, The Stupid Old Man Who Moved a Mountain 11. Translated by Hsuan-tsang, Abhidharma-mahavibhasa-sastra, Chapter 99: The Sins of Mahadeva Criticism and Theory 12. Hsiao T'ung, Preface to Literary Selections 13. Hsieh Ho, Preface to Record of the Classification of Old Painters 14. Yen Yu, Ts'ang-lang's Discussions of Poetry, An Analysis of Poetry 15. Yuan Hao-wen, Poems on Poetry, No. 30 2. VERSE Classical Poetry 16. Anonymous, Classic of Odes 17. Liu Chen, Cockfight 18. Juan Chi, Songs of My Soul 19. Kuo P'u, Poem on the Wandering Immortal 20. T'ao Ch'ien Poems After Drinking Wine (No. 5) On Reading the Mountains and Seas Classic 21. Hsieh Ling-yun, On My Way from South Mountain to North Mountain, I Glance at the Scenery from the Lake 22. Shen Yueh, Harmonizing with a Poem by Left Assistant Yu Kao-chih Requesting Sick Leave Listening to Gibbons at Rock-Pool Creek 23. Wang Seng-ju, Describing a Dream for Someone 24. Yu Chien-wu, Spring Day 25. Hsiao Kang, A Pheasant on His Morning Flight 26. Brahmacarin Wang, [Untitled] 27. Lo Pin-wang, On the Cicada: In Prison 28. Ho Chih-chang, Written Impromptu upon Returning to My Hometown 29. Ch'en Tzu-ang, Poems of Reflection on the Vicissitudes of Life 30. Chang Chiu-ling, Poems of Reflection on the Vicissitudes of Life 31. Wang Chih-huan, Climbing the Stork Pavilion 32. Meng Hao-jan, Seeking Out Master Chan on Incense Mountain Spring Dawn Passing Seven-League Rapids 33. Wang Ch'ang-ling, Silent at Her Window 34. Wang Wei, Climbing Pien-chueh Temple Second Song for the Worship of the Goddess at Yu Mountain: 'Bidding the Goddess Farewell' Deer Enclosure 35. Li Po, To Meng Hao-jan / Late Bloomer at the Front of My Garden / To Send to Tu Fu as a Joke / Drinking Alone in the Moonlight (No. 1) / Still Night Thoughts / Poems in an Old Style 36. Ch'u Kuang-hsi, The Streets of Ch'ang-an 37. Tu Fu, Spring View A Guest Arrives Recruiting Officer of Shih-hao At the Sky's End, Thinking of Li Po 38. Chang Chi, Maple Bridge Night Mooring 39. Ts'en Shen, A Song of the Running Horse River: Presented on Saying Farewell to the Army Going on Campaign to the West 40. Ssu-k'ung Shu, In Illness, Dismissing My Singing Girl 41. Meng Chiao, On Failing the Examination 42. Han Yu, The Girl of Mount Hua 43. Hsueh T'ao, Listening to a Monk Play the Reed Pipes Lotus-Gathering Boat 44. Liu Tsung-yuan, River Snow 45. Cold Mountain, [Untitled Poems] 46. Chia Tao, Looking for a Recluse but Failing to Find Him 47. Li Shen, Pitying the Farmer 48. Li Te-yu, To Patriarch Sun at Hua-yang Grotto 49. Li Ho, At Ch'ang-ku, Reading: To Show to My Man Pa My Man Pa Replies Ravine on a Cold Evening 50. Autumn Maid Tu, The Robe of Golden Thread 51. Li Shang-yin, Master Chia 52. P'i Jih-hsiu, Impromptu on a Hangover 53. Yu Hsuan-chi, On a Visit to Ch'ung-chen Taoist Temple I See in the South Hall the List of Successful Candidates in the Imperial Examinations 54. Mei Yao-ch'en, Sharing Lodging with Hsieh Shih-hou in the Library of the Hsu Family and Being Much Bothered by the Noise of Rats Shih-hou Pointed Out to Me That from Ancient Times There Had Never Been a Poem on the Subject of Lice, and Urged Me to Try Writing One 55. Wang An-shih, Bald Mountain 56. Su Shih, When Yu-k'o Painted Bamboo Reading the Poetry of Meng Chiao Lament of the Farm Wife of Wu 57. Huang T'ing-chien, To Go with Shih K'o's Painting of an Old Man Tasting Vinegar 58. Yang Wan-li, Watching a Village Festival Songs of Depression (two selections) 59. Lu Yu, The Merchant's Joy Written in a Carefree Mood To Show to My Sons 60. Wen T'ien-hsiang, Chin-ling Post Station 61. Chao Meng-fu, To a Pyrotechnist 62. Yang Wei-chen, Mating 63. Ni Tsan, Inscribed on a Painting by Myself 64. Hsu Pen, Saying Goodbye to a Monk from Japan 65. Kao Ch'i, Written on Seeing the Flowers, and Remembering My Daughter Silkworm Song of Torchlit Fields 66. Yang Shih-ch'i, Night Rain: A Wall Collapses 67. Shen Chou, The Taoist Huang Has Died of Alcoholism 68. Yang Hsun-chi, Inscribed on the Doors of My Bookshelves 69. Chu Yun-ming, A Fan from Korea 70. Wang Chiu-ssu, Ballad of Selling a Child 71. Ho Ching-ming, Ballad of the Government Granary Clerk 72. Huang E, [Title Lost] 73. Li K'ai-hsien, A Parable Earthquake 74. Hsu Wei, A Buddhist Monk Cut and Burned His Own Flesh to Make the Rains Stop-a Man from His Native Place Asked Me to Write a Poem to Send to Him A Kite 75. Tsung Ch'en, Song of Selling Flowers 76. Mo Shih-lung, Saying Good-bye to a Singing Girl Who Has Decided to Become a Nun 77. T'ang Hsien-tsu, Twenty-Two Quatrains on Receiving the Obituary Notice for My Son Shih-ch'u 78. Yuan Hung-tao, The 'Slowly, Slowly' Poem On Receiving My Letter of Termination 79. Wu Chia-chi, The Grain-Barge Wife 80. Wu Li, Singing of the Source of Holy Church 81. Wang Shih-chen, Medicine 82. K'ang-hsi, Lines in Praise of a Self-Chiming Clock 83. Cheng Hsieh, Song of Surfing on the Bore 84. Yuan Mei, On the Way to Pa-ling Lyrics and Arias 85. Attributed to Li Po, A Suite in the Ch'ing-p'ing Mode 86. Anonymous, Tune: Magpie on the Branch; a Lyric from Tun-huang 87. Liu Yu-hsi, Tune: Memories of the South; a Spring Lyric After Po Chu -yi 88. Wen T'ing-yun, Tune: Deva-Like Barbarian 89. Wei Chuang, Tune: The Bodhisattva Foreigner 90. Ou-yang Chiung, Tune: Offering Congratulations to the Enlightened Reign 91. Li Yu, Tune: The Crow's Nocturnal Cry / Tune: New Bounty of Royalty / Tune: Pure Serene Music / Tune: Memories of the South; A Reminiscence 92. Liu Yung, Tune: Bells Ringing in the Rain; Sadness of Parting 93. Fan Chung-yen, Tune: Sumuche Dancers 94. Yen Shu, Tune: Spring in the Jade House 95. Ou-yang Hsiu, Tune: Drunk in Fairyland 96. Su Shih, Tune: Partridge Sky; Written While Banished to Huang-chou / Tune: Fragrance Fills the Courtyard / Tune: Immortal by the River 97. Huang T'ing-chien, Tune: The Courtyard Full of Fragrance; Tea / Tune: A Thousand Autumns 98. Ch'in Kuan, Tune: Sand of Silk-Washing Brook; A Spring Morning / Tune: Perfumed Garden; Bidding Adieu 99. Li Chih-yi, Tune: The Diviner 100. Chu Tun-ju, Tune: Nien-nu Is Charming 101. Li Ch'ing-chao, Tune: Rouged Lips; Naivete / Tune: Magnolia Flowers (short version) / Tune: Fisherman's Pride; A Dream / A Long Melancholy Tune (Autumn Sorrow); Despair / Tune: Spring at Wu Ling; Spring Ends 102. Hsin Ch'i-chi, Tune: Spring in the Ch'in Garden (About to swear off drinking, he warns the wine cup to go away) / Tune: Pure Serene Music; Rural Life 103. Wu Wen-ying, Tune: Rouged Lips; Rain Just Over on the Night of the Lantern Preview 104. Chang Yen, Tune: Pure Serene Music 105. Kuan Han-ch'ing, In the Southern Mode, to the Tune of A Sprig of Flowers; The Refusal to Get Old 106. Tu Shan-fu, Tune, Shua Hai-erh; Country Cousin at the Theater 107. Ma Chih-yuan, Tune: Heaven-Cleansed Sands; Autumn Thoughts 108. Chang Yang-hao, [Untitled] 109. Kuan Yun-shih, Tune: Rapt with Wine, Loudly Singing-Joy in Spring's Coming; My Love 110. Wang Ho-ch'ing, Tune: Tsui-chung T'ien; To the Giant Butterfly / Tune: Po Pu-tuan; Long-Haired Little Dog / Tune: Po Pu-tuan; Fat Couple 111. Anonymous, Tune: San-fan Yu-lou Jen 112. Yang Na, Tune: Hung Hsiu-hsieh; To a Flea 113. Anonymous, Tune: Wu Yeh-erh; Twitting the Teller of Tall Tales 114. Anonymous, In the Chung Mode, to the Tune of P'u T'ien Lo 115. Yun-k'an Tzu, [Untitled] 116. Ali Hsiying, Lazy Cloud's Nest 1 and 2 117. Yang Shen, Tune: Moon Over West River 118. Liu Shih, Tune: Dreaming of Southland; Thinking of Someone 119. Wu Li, Tune: Happily Flitting Oriole; From Music of Harmonious Heaven in Reverent Thanks to the Lord of Heaven 120. Nara Singde, Tune: As If in a Dream 121. Wang Kuo-wei, Tune: Sand of Silk-Washing Brook Elegies and Rhapsodies 122. Attributed to Ch'uYuan, Heavenly Questions 123. Chia Yi, The Owl 124. Mei Ch'eng, Seven Stimuli 125. Ch'eng-kung Sui, Rhapsody on Whistling 126. T'ao Ch'ien, The Return 127. Su Shih, Red Cliff Rhapsody Folk and Folklike Songs Ballads and Narrative Verse 128. Liu Pang, Song of the Great Wind 129. Ssu-ma Hsiang-ju, Cock-Phoenix, Hen-Phoenix 130. Anonymous, Ground-Thumping Song 131. Li Yen-nien, A Song 132. Attributed to Hsi-chun, Lost Horizon 133. Anonymous, Song of the Viet Boatman 134. Anonymous, Mulberry Up the Lane 135. Anonymous, From the Nineteen Old Poems Green, Green Riverside Grass 136. Anonymous, They Fought South of the Wall 137. Anonymous, Crows on City Walls; a Children's Ditty from the Early Years of the Reign of the Later Han Emperor Huan 138. Anonymous or attributed to Ts'ai Yung, Watering Horses at a Long Wall Hole 139. Ts'ao Ts'ao, Song on Enduring the Cold 140. Fu Hsuan, Pity Me! 141. Anonymous, Midnight Songs 142. Anonymous, A Peacock Southeast Flew 143. Pao Chao, Magic Cinnabar 144. Pao Ling-hui, Added to a Letter Sent to a Traveler 145. Anonymous, The Ballad of Mulan 146. Hulu Chin, Song of the Tolos 147. Anonymous, Song of the Breaking of the Willow 148. Wang Wei, Army Ballad 149. Po Chu-yi, The Song of Lasting Regret 150. Po Chu-yi and Yuan Chen, Iranian Whirling Girls 151. Anonymous, Poem of Medicine Puns 152. Yao Chen, Ballad on the Investigation of a Disaster 153. Li Mi-an, The Half-and-Half Song 154. Feng Meng-lung, Mountain Songs 155. Chiu Tsz-yung, A Lament for Fortune's Frailty 156. Chin Ho, Ballad of the Maiden of Lan-ling 3. PROSE Documents 157. Anonymous, The Great Announcement, from the Classic of Documents 158. Wang Pao, The Contract for a Youth History 159. Attributed to Tso Ch'iu-ming, Two Brothers of Cheng and the Mother Who Doted on the Younger, from The Commentary of Mr. Tso 160. Pan Ku, The Passing of Kung Sheng, from History of the Han Moral Lessons 161. Yang Hsiung, Exemplary Sayings, Chapter 2 162. Pan Chao, Lessons for Women Parallel Prose 163. Jen Fang, Memorial of Indictment Against Liu Cheng 164. Wang Po, Preface to Ascending the Pavilion of King T'eng in Hung-chou on an Autumn Day for a Parting Feast Letters 165. Li Po, Letter to Han Ching-chou 166. Tsung Ch'en, Letter in Reply to Liu Yi-chang Prefaces and Postfaces 167. Hsu Shen, Postface to Explanation of Simple and Compound Graphs 168. Wang Hsi-chih, Preface to Collected Poems from the Orchid Pavilion 169. Liu Tsung-yuan, Preface to the Foolish Brook Poems 170. Li Ch'ing-chao, Postface to a Catalog on a Collection of Bronze and Stone Inscriptions Discourses Essays and Sketches 171. Hsi K'ang, Discourse on Nourishing Life 172. T'ao Ch'ien, The Peach Blossom Spring 173. Han Yu, An Explication of Progress in Learning 174. Ou-yang Hsiu, The Three Zithers A Record of the Pavilion of an Intoxicated Old Man 175. Shen Kua, [On a UFO], from Brush Talks from Dream Brook 176. Chang Tai, Liu Ching-t'ing the Storyteller Professional Matchmakers, from Dream Memories of West Lake 177. Wei Hsueh-yi, Account of a Peach-Stone Boat 178. Lin Ssu-huan, The Vocal Mimic 179. Li Yu, The Arts of Sleeping, Walking, Sitting, and Standing, from The Arts of Living 180. Yuan Mei, Thoughts upon Student Huang's Borrowing of Books Travelogues and Scenic Descriptions 181. Laymen of Mount Lu Associated with Hui-yuan, A Poem on Wandering at the Stone Gate, with Introduction 182. Yang Hsuan-chih, The Establishment of the White Horse Temple, from The Record of the Monasteries of Loyang 183. Fan Ch'eng-ta, A Climb Up Mount Omei, from Diary of a Boat Trip to Wu 184. Chou Mi, Observing the Tidal Bore, from Reminiscences of Wu-lin Miscellanea 185. Fan Sheng-chih, Fan Sheng-chih's Book, Chapter 1: Basic Principles of Farming 186. Anonymous, Miscellanies, Secret H, A Fragment 187. Li Shang-yin, Li Shang-yin's Miscellany 188. Anonymous, Lay Student Notations from Tun-huang 189. Ch'u Ching-ch'un, That Which Is Mandated by Heaven Is Called Nature 190. Jokes Biographies Autobiographies and Memoirs 191. Ch'en Shou, The Biography of Hua-t'o, from History of the Three Kingdoms 192. Yeh Meng-te, Physicians Cannot Raise the Dead 193. Lu Yu, The Autobiography of Instructor Lu 194. Liu Tsung-yuan, Biography of the Child Ou Chi 195. P'i Jih-hsiu, Biography of a Girl Surnamed Chao 196. Lu Jung, The Biography of A-liu 197. Hou Fang-Yu, The Biography of Actor Ma Fictional and Fictionalized Biographies and Autobiographies 198. Han Yu, The Biography of Fur Point 199. Lu Kuei-meng, Biography of the Vagrant of Rivers and Lakes 4. FICTION Rhetorical Persuasions and Allegories 200. Compiled by Liu Hsiang, Intrigues of the Warring States 201. Liu Tsung-yuan, The Donkey of Ch'ien Anecdotal Fiction 202. Liu Yi-ch'ing, A New Account of Tales of the World Tales of the Strange 203. Attributed to Liu Hsiang, Biographies of Transcendents 204. Kan Pao, Preface to and Tales from Search for the Supernatural 205. P'u Sung-ling, Strange Tales from Make-Do Studio 206. Chi Yun, Sketches from the Cottage for the Contemplation of Subtleties Classical-Language Short Stories 207. Yuan Chen, The Story of Ying-ying 208. Li Kung-tso, An Account of the Governor of the Southern Branch Vernacular Short Stories 209. Anonymous, The Shrew: Sharp-Tongued Ts'ui-lien 210. Feng Meng-lung, The Canary Murders Novels 211. Attributed to Wu Ch'eng-en, The Journey to the West Chapter 7 212. Anonymous, Wu Sung Beats the Tiger, from Water Margin, with Commentary by Chin Sheng-t'an 213. Ts'ao Hsueh-ch'in, A Burial Mound for Flowers, from Dream of Red Towers 5. ORAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Prosimetric Narratives 214. Anonymous, Transformation Text on Mahamaudgalyayana Rescuing His Mother from the Underworld with Pictures, One Scroll, with Preface 215. Tung Chieh-yuan, Master Tung's Western Chamber Romance Chapter 2 Drama 216. Kuan Han-ch'ing, Injustice to Tou O 217. T'ang Hsien-tsu, The Peony Pavilion Scene 7 218. Anonymous, The Mortal Thoughts of a Nun, from a Popular Drama Principal Chinese Dynasties and Periods Romanization Schemes for Modern Standard Mandarin