The Three Hundred Tang Poems is an anthology

Anthology

An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...

 of poems from the Chinese Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...

 (618 - 907) first compiled around 1763 by Sun Zhu (1722-1778), the Qing

Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....

 scholar also known as Hengtang Tuishi (衡塘退士 "Retired Master of Hengtang"). Various later editions also exist. All editions contain over 300 poems: in this case, "Three-hundred" means not exactly three-hundred; but, rather, this refers to an estimative quantification, meaning "approximately three-hundred". The ten, twenty, or more extra poems represent a sort of a good luck bonus, analogous to the "baker's dozen", in the west. Even more, the number 300 (or more exactly 305) was a classic number for a poetry collection due to the influence of the Shijing, which was generally known as the Three Hundred Shi (that is, poems). Dissatisfied with the anthology Poems by a Thousand Masters (Qianjiashi 千家詩) compiled by Liu Kezhuang

Liu Kezhuang

Liu Kezhuang , was a Song Dynasty Chinese poet and literary critic.He is credited with selecting the first version of the anthology "Poems by a Thousand Masters"...

 in the late Southern Song

Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...

, and influenced by Ming Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

 poetry anthologies, Sun selected the poems based on their popularity and educational value. The collection has been popular ever since and can be found in many Chinese households. For centuries, elementary students memorized the poems and used them to learn to read and write. It contains poems by Du Fu

Du Fu

Du Fu was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty.Along with Li Bai , he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His greatest ambition was to serve his country as a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations...

, Li Bai

Li Bai

Li Bai , also known in the West by various other transliterations, especially Li Po, was a major Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty poetry period. He has been regarded as one of the greatest poets in China's Tang period, which is often called China's "golden age" of poetry. Around a thousand existing...

, Wang Wei, Li Shangyin

Li Shangyin

Li Shangyin , courtesy name Yishan , was a Chinese poet of the late Tang Dynasty, born in Henei . Along with Li He, he was much admired and "rediscovered" in the 20th century by the young Chinese writers for the imagist quality of his poems...

, Meng Haoran

Meng Haoran

Meng Haoran was a Chinese poet during the Tang Dynasty. Unsuccessful in his official career, he mainly lived in and wrote about his birthplace....

, Han Yu

Han Yu

Han Yu , born in Nanyang, Henan, China, was a precursor of Neo-Confucianism as well as an essayist and poet, during the Tang dynasty. The Indiana Companion calls him "comparable in stature to Dante, Shakespeare or Goethe" for his influence on the Chinese literary tradition . He stood for strong...

, Du Mu

Du Mu

Du Mu was a leading Chinese poet of the late Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name was Muzhi , and sobriquet Fanchuan .He was born in Chang'an into an elite family whose fortunes were declining...

, Bai Juyi, Liu Changqing

Liu Changqing

Liu Changqing , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Liu Chang-ch'ing", was a poet of the Middle Tang Dynasty, and eleven of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-See also:...

, Cen Shen

Cen Shen

Cen Shen was a Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty. He was born to a bureaucratic family in Nanyang , but later moved to Jiangling . His great-grandfather Cen Wenben, grandfather's brother Cen Changqian and elder uncle Cen Yi were all chancellors. His father Cen Zhi once occupied Jingzhou Cishi...

, Wang Changling

Wang Changling

Wang Changling was a major Tang Dynasty poet. His zi was Shaobo . He was originally from Taiyuan in the Shanxi province of China, according to the editors of the Three Hundred Tang Poems, although other sources claim that he was actually from Jiangning near modern-day Nanjing...

, Wei Yingwu

Wei Yingwu

Wei Yingwu , and also transliterated into English "Wei Yinwu" or "Wei Yin-wu", was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, with twelve of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Poetry:...

, and more. Of the Tang poets which are most notable in modern times, Three Hundred Tang Poems, conspicuously contains no poems by Li He

Li He

Li He , courtesy name Changji , was a short-lived Chinese poet of the late Tang Dynasty, known for his unconventional and imaginative style.-Biography:...

.

Organization of poems

The original Qing Dynasty version of the 300 Tang Poems was organized by the poem's formal type

Classical Chinese poetry forms

thumb|right|350px|Poet on a Mountaintop by [[Shen Zhou]], about 1500 CE .Classical Chinese poetry forms are those poetry forms, or modes, which typify the traditional Chinese poems written in Literary or Classical Chinese...

, of which there were seven:

• Folk song styled verse (yuefu)

Ancient verse (gushi

Gushi (poetry)

Gushi is a type of Classical Chinese poem literally meaning "old poetry" or "old style poetry": gushi is a technical term for certain historically exemplary poems together with poetry composed in this formal style...

):

• Five-character ancient verse
• Seven-character ancient verse

Modern style verse (jintishi):

Eight-line regulated verse (lüshi

Lushi (poetry)

Lushi lüshi refers a specific form of Classical Chinese poetry verse form. One of the most important poetry forms of Classical Chinese poetry, the lushi was an eight-line regulated verse form with lines made up of five, six, or seven characters; thus:*Five-character eight-line regulated verse : a...

):

• Five-character regular verse
• Seven-character regular verse

Quatrain (jueju

Jueju

Jueju is a style of jintishi, or "Modern form poetry", that grew popular among Chinese poets in the Tang Dynasty , although traceable to earlier origins...

):

• Five-character quatrain
• Seven-character quatrain

List of Poets

The poets in the anthology are:

• Bai Juyi, , (772–846).
• Cen Can
  Cen Can
  Cen Can was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. In older English works his name also appears as "Ts'en Ts'an" or "Tsen Ts'an". He was friends with the poets Du Fu and Gao Shi.-Poems:...
  
  , Cen Shen
  Cen Shen
  Cen Shen was a Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty. He was born to a bureaucratic family in Nanyang , but later moved to Jiangling . His great-grandfather Cen Wenben, grandfather's brother Cen Changqian and elder uncle Cen Yi were all chancellors. His father Cen Zhi once occupied Jingzhou Cishi...
  
  (?), , (715-770).
• Chang Jian
  Chang Jian
  Chang Jian , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Ch'ang Chien", was a poet of the Tang Dynasty, and two of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Biography:...
  
  , .
• Chen Tao
  Chen Tao (poet)
  Chen Tao​ , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Ch'en T'ao", was a poet of the Late Tang Dynasty, and one of whose poems was collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems; also, other of his poems have been anthologized in the Quantangshi...
  
  , , (824-882).
• Chen Zi'ang
  Chen Zi'ang
  Chen Ziang –702) was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. He was important in helping to bring into being the type of poetry which is considered to be characteristically "Tang". Dissatisfied with the current state of the affairs of poetry at the time, almost paradoxically, by keeping his eye...
  
  , (661/656-702).
• Cui Hao
  Cui Hao (poet)
  Cui Hao was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty in China.Cui Hao was born in Biànzhōu and passed the imperial examinations in 723. He is known to have traveled extensively as an official, particularly between the years 723-744. He was known for three poetry topic - women, frontier outposts, and...
  
  , , (704？-754).
• Cui Shu,
• Cui Tu
  Cui Tu
  Cui Tu , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Ts'ui T'u", was a poet of the Late Tang Dynasty, and two of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Poetry:...
  
  , , (born 854).
• Dai Shulun, .
• Du Fu
  Du Fu
  Du Fu was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty.Along with Li Bai , he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His greatest ambition was to serve his country as a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations...
  
  , , (712–770).
• Du Mu
  Du Mu
  Du Mu was a leading Chinese poet of the late Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name was Muzhi , and sobriquet Fanchuan .He was born in Chang'an into an elite family whose fortunes were declining...
  
  , , (803—852).
• Du Qiuniang, .
• Du Shenyan
  Du Shenyan
  Du Shenyan​ , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Tu Shen-yen", was a poet of the Early Tang Dynasty, and one of whose poems was collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Biography:...
  
  , , (born ca. 646).
• Du Xunhe
  Du Xunhe
  Du Xunhe was a Chinese poet of the Late Tang Dynasty, with one of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Poetry:...
  
  , , (846-904).
• Gao Shi
  Gao Shi
  Gao Shi , was a poet of the Tang Dynasty, and some of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.Born into an impoverished family in Hunan Province, Gao eventually became a secretary in the military, enjoying a successful career.Gao Shi was one of the competitors...
  
  , , (died 765).
• Gu Kuang, .
• Han Hong, .
• Han Wu, .
• Han Yu
  Han Yu
  Han Yu , born in Nanyang, Henan, China, was a precursor of Neo-Confucianism as well as an essayist and poet, during the Tang dynasty. The Indiana Companion calls him "comparable in stature to Dante, Shakespeare or Goethe" for his influence on the Chinese literary tradition . He stood for strong...
  
  , , (768–824).
• He Zhizhang
  He Zhizhang
  He Zhizhang , courtesy name Jizhen , was a Chinese poet born in present-day Xiaoshan, Zhejiang during the Tang Dynasty, and is one of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup. His well-known works include On Returning Home.-References:...
  
  , , (ca. 659–744)
• Huangfu Ran, .
• Jia Dao
  Jia Dao
  Jia Dao , courtesy name Langxian , was a Chinese poet active during the Tang Dynasty. He was born near modern Beijing; after a period as a Buddhist monk, he went to Chang'an. He became one of Han Yu's disciples, but failed the jinshi exam several times. He wrote both discursive gushi and lyric...
  
  , , (779–843).
• Jin Changzu, .
• Li Bai
  Li Bai
  Li Bai , also known in the West by various other transliterations, especially Li Po, was a major Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty poetry period. He has been regarded as one of the greatest poets in China's Tang period, which is often called China's "golden age" of poetry. Around a thousand existing...
  
  , (Li Po) , (701-762).
• Li Duan, 李端, (743-782).
• Li Pin
  Li Pin
  Li Pin​ , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Li P'in", was a poet of the Late Tang Dynasty, and one of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Poetry:...
  
  , , (late Ninth Century).
• Li Qi
  Li Qi (Tang Dynasty poet)
  Li Qi was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, with seven of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems. As translated by Witter Bynner, these are:* "An Old Air"* "A Farewell to my Friend Chen Zhangfu"* "A Lute Song"...
  
  , , (690-751).
• Li Shangyin
  Li Shangyin
  Li Shangyin , courtesy name Yishan , was a Chinese poet of the late Tang Dynasty, born in Henei . Along with Li He, he was much admired and "rediscovered" in the 20th century by the young Chinese writers for the imagist quality of his poems...
  
  , , (ca. 813–858)
• Li Yi (poet)
  Li Yi (poet)
  -Poetry:Three of Li Yi's poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems. However, one of his most famous, and one included in most other Classical Chinese poetry anthologies was not; namely the one translated by Herbert Giles as "A CAST-OFF FAVORITE", written in the persona...
  
  , , (about 770-827).
• Liu Changqing
  Liu Changqing
  Liu Changqing , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Liu Chang-ch'ing", was a poet of the Middle Tang Dynasty, and eleven of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-See also:...
  
  , , (709-785).
• Liu Fangping, 劉方平.
• Liu Jixu, 劉脊虛.
• Liu Yuxi
  Liu Yuxi
  Liu Yuxi was a Chinese poet, philosopher, and essayist, active during the Tang Dynasty. He was an associate of Bai Juyi and was known for his folk-style poems.- External links :* * *...
  
  , , (772–842).
• Liu Zhongyong
  Liu Zhongyong
  Liu Zhongyong -Poetry:Out of thirteen surviving poems in the Collected Tang Poems, Liu Zhongyong had one poem collected in Three Hundred Tang Poems, which was translated by Witter Bynner as "A Trooper's Burden"....
  
  , .
• Liu Zongyuan
  Liu Zongyuan
  Liu Zongyuan , courtesy name Zihou , was a Chinese writer who lived in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty. Liu was born in present-day Yongji, Shanxi, along with Han Yu, he was a founder of the Classical Prose Movement...
  
  , ,(773–819).
• Lu Lun
  Lu Lun
  Lu Lun was a Chinese poet of the Middle Tang Dynasty, with six of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems, as well as one by Sikong Shu, referencing him, and which was translated by Witter Bynner as "WHEN LU LUN MY COUSIN COMES FOR THE NIGHT"...
  
  , , (739-799).
• Luo Binwang
  Luo Binwang
  Luo Binwang , courtesy name Guanguang , was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. His family was from modern Wuzhou, Zhejiang, but he was raised in Shandong...
  
  , , (ca. 640–December 29, 684).
• Ma Dai, 馬戴.
• Meng Haoran
  Meng Haoran
  Meng Haoran was a Chinese poet during the Tang Dynasty. Unsuccessful in his official career, he mainly lived in and wrote about his birthplace....
  
  , , (689 or 691 - 740).
• Meng Jiao
  Meng Jiao
  Meng​ Jiao​ , and whose name, especially in older English transliteration, appears as "Meng Chiao", was a poet of the Late Tang Dynasty, and two of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Biography:...
  
  , , (751-814).
• Pei Di
  Pei Di
  Pei Di was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, and a contemporary of Wang Wei, although younger by fifteen years. The poet's name is also rendered into English as "Pei Ti". the close personal friendship between Wang Wei and Pei Di is preserved in a letter by Wang Wei inviting him for a Springtime...
  
  , , (born 716?).
• Qian Qi
  Qian Qi
  Qian Qi , and also transliterated into English "Chien Chi", was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, with three of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems...
  
  , , (710 -782).
• Qin Taoyu, 秦韜玉.
• Qiu Wei
  Qiu Wei
  -Poetry:Qiu Wei's poetic career coincided with the major flourishing of the Tang poetry styles, within which he was grouped in with the "Fields and Gardens Poets Group" , along with such poets as Meng Haoran, Wang Wei, Chang Jian, and Pei Di...
  
  , , (694-789?).
• Qiwu Qian, 綦毋潛.
• Quan Deyu
  Quan Deyu
  Quan Deyu , courtesy name Zaizhi , formally Duke Wen of Fufeng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xianzong.- Background :...
  
  , 權德輿.
• Seng Jaoran, 僧皎然.
• Shen Quanqi
  Shen Quanqi
  Shen Quanqi , also known as Yunqing , was a Chinese poet active during the Tang Dynasty. He was born in the prefecture of Neihuang in the province of Xiangzhou , which is known today as the province of Henan....
  
  , 沈佺期.
• Sikong Shu
  Sikong Shu
  Sikong Shu , was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, with three of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems...
  
  , , (ca.720 - ca.790).
• Song Zhiwen
  Song Zhiwen
  Song Zhiwen was a Chinese poet considered to be of the Tang poetry tradition of the Tang Dynasty, although technically his poetic career was largely within the anomalous dynastic interregnum of Wu Zetian...
  
  , , (c. 660-c. 710).
• Tang Xuanzong (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang), , (685-762).
• Wang Bo
  Wang Bo
  Wang Bo , courtesy name Zi'an , was a Chinese poet in the Tang Dynasty.Wang Bo is one of the Four Literary Eminences in Early Tang, known as ChuTangSiJie . He opposed the spread of the Gong Ti Style of the Sui Dynasty, and advocated a style rich in emotions...
  
  , , (ca. 649–676).
• Wang Changling
  Wang Changling
  Wang Changling was a major Tang Dynasty poet. His zi was Shaobo . He was originally from Taiyuan in the Shanxi province of China, according to the editors of the Three Hundred Tang Poems, although other sources claim that he was actually from Jiangning near modern-day Nanjing...
  
  , , (698–756).
• Wang Han
  Wang Han
  Wang Han was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, with one of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Poetry:...
  
  , , (early part eighth century).
• Wang Jian
  Wang Jian (Tang poet)
  Wang Jian was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, with one of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Poetry:...
  
  , , (died 830?)
• Wang Wan, 王灣.
• Wang Wei, , (699-759).
• Wang Zhihuan
  Wang Zhihuan
  Wang Zhihuan and whose name has been traditionally been transcribed "Wang Tsu-huan" was a Chinese poet of the Kaiyuan era. He is known for his famous poem entitled "On the Stork Tower" -Poetry:...
  
  , , (688-742).
• Wei Yingwu
  Wei Yingwu
  Wei Yingwu , and also transliterated into English "Wei Yinwu" or "Wei Yin-wu", was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, with twelve of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.-Poetry:...
  
  , , (737 -792).
• Wei Zhuang
  Wei Zhuang
  Wei Zhuang , style name Duanyi , was a Chinese poet and late Tang period historical figure, is best known for his poetry in shi and ci styles. He was born into a family of minor scholars in Duling , a town southwest of the capital Changan....
  
  , , (836–910).
• Wen Tingyun
  Wen Tingyun
  Wen Tingyun born as Wen Qi , styled Feiqing was an important Chinese lyricist of the late Tang Dynasty. He helped establish the Ci in chinese poetry.He was born in Qin, Shanxi province, China.Yu Xuanji was among his followers....
  
  , , (812-870).
• Wumingshi
  Anonymous work
  Anonymous works are works, such as art or literature, that have an anonymous, undisclosed, or unknown creator or author. In the United States it is legally defined as "a work on the copies or phonorecords of which no natural person is identified as author."...
  
   (i.e., anonymous + honorific), 無名氏 / 无名氏.
• Xibiren, 西鄙人.
• Xu Hun
  Xu Hun
  Xu Hun was a Chinese poet of the Tang poetry tradition of the Tang Dynasty. He received his Jinshi degree through the imperial examination system in 832, and subsequently followed a "moderately distinguished" professional career...
  
  , , (fl. first half of ninth century).
• Xue Feng, 薛逢.
• Yuan Jie, 元結.
• Yuan Zhen
  Yuan Zhen
  Yuan Zhen , courtesy name Weizhi , was a politician of the middle Tang Dynasty, but is more known as an important Chinese writer and poet, particularly for work Yingying's Biography , which was often adapted for other treatments, including operatic and musical ones...
  
  , , (779 – 831).
• Zhang Bi, 張泌.
• Zhang Hu, 張祜.
• Zhang Ji from Hubei, , (fl. 8th).
• Zhang Ji from Jiangnan
  Zhang Ji (poet from Jiangnan)
  Zhang Ji , Chinese style name Wen Chang 文昌, c. 766-c. 830), and transliterated Chang Chi2 by Giles, was a Tang Dynasty poet and scholar.A native of 烏江 Niaojiang in Jiangnan, he was patronised by the great Han Yu, whom he even ventured to take to task for his fondness for dice. The latter in 815...
  
  ), (766 - c. 830).
• Zhang Jiuling
  Zhang Jiuling
  Zhang Jiuling , courtesy name Zishou , nickname Bowu , formally Count Wenxian of Shixing , was a prominent minister, noted poet and scholar of the Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.- Background :Zhang Jiuling was born in 673, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong...
  
  , , (673-740).
• Zhang Qiao, 張喬.
• Zhang Xu
  Zhang Xu (calligrapher)
  Zhang Xu , courtesy name: Bogao , was a Chinese calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty.A native of Suzhou, he became an official during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Zhang was known as one of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup...
  
  , , (fl. 8th century).
• Zheng Tian
  Zheng Tian
  Zheng Tian , courtesy name Taiwen , formally Duke Wenzhao of Xingyang , was a chancellor of late Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong...
  
  , , (mid 9th cent.).
• Zhu Qingyu, 朱慶餘.
• Zu Yong, 祖詠.

(note: some "Wade-Giles" is actually modified Wade-Giles or something else)

See also

• Tang poetry
  Tang poetry
  Tang poetry refers to poetry written in or around the time of and in the characteristic style of China's Tang dynasty, and/or follows a certain style, often considered as the Golden Age of Chinese poetry...
  
  
• Quantangshi
  Quantangshi
  The Quantangshi , and also translated as the Complete Tang Poems, is a collection of Tang poetry...
  
  
• Classical Chinese poetry
  Classical Chinese poetry
  thumb|right|300px|Attributed to [[Han Gan]], Huiyebai , about 750CE .Classical Chinese poetry is that type of poetry that is the traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese. It is typified by certain traditional forms, or modes, and certain traditional genres...