Arthur Waley était une autorité distinguée de la langue et de la littérature chinoises, dont les œuvres offraient des aperçus profonds sur la culture orientale. Célébré pour ses nombreuses traductions du chinois, ses interprétations ont donné aux lecteurs occidentaux accès à la richesse des traditions poétiques et philosophiques de l'Asie de l'Est. Son approche unique a capturé l'esprit et les nuances des textes originaux, faisant de lui une figure centrale du paysage littéraire interculturel.
This book ranges from the melancholy to the cheerful, and to poems full of nostalgia: they essentially deal with concrete, rather than abstract, conceptions. Poets included are Ch'u Yuan, writing in 300 BC, Mei Sheng and Fu I, and Po Chu-I who wrote in the ninth century.
Written in the middle of the 16th century, this Chinese classic tells the story of Tripitaka's journey to India and what happens on the way. Its true theme is man's pilgrimage through life, with Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy symbolizing diverse elements of human nature.
Noh plays live on as a magnificent artistic heritage handed down from the high culture of medieval Japan. This book contains translations of nineteen plays and summaries of sixteen more, together with a revealing introductory essay that furnishes the background for an understanding and appreciation of the No as a highly significant dramatic form.
This unique anthology of Buddhist scripture traces the development of Buddhism through the ages, with translations from the original Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese.
Completed in the early 11th century, The Tale of Genji is considered the supreme masterpiece of Japanese prose literature, and one of the world's earliest novels. A work of great length, it comprises six parts, the first part of which (also called The Tale of Genji) is reprinted here. The exact origins of this remarkable saga of the nobility of Heian Japan remain somewhat obscured by time, although its author, Lady Shikibu Murasaki, presumably derived many of her insights into court life from her years of service with the royal family. The novel centers on the life and loves of the prince known as "the shining Genji." Far more than an exotic romance, however, the tale presents finely drawn characters in realistic situations, set against a richly embroidered tapestry of court life. Moreover, a wistful sense of nostalgia pervades the accounts of courtly intrigues and rivalries, resulting in an exquisitely detailed portrayal of a decaying aristocracy. Vibrant in its poetry and wordplay, subtle in its social and psychological observations, this work ranks in stature and significance with such Western classics as Cervantes' Don Quixote and Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. This inexpensive edition, featuring Arthur Waley's splendid translation of the first of the six-part series, offers readers a memorable taste of one of the world's first and greatest novels.
Take a first-hand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue.
A.D. 701-762
With stunning translations of Chinese and Japanese poetry, this collection offers a rich and diverse view of the beauty and power of Asian literature. Waley's mastery of language and poetry is evident on every page, making this book a must-have for anyone interested in the poetry and culture of Asia.
One of the most influential books of all time, The Analects of Confucius collects the sayings and wisdom of the Chinese philosopher and his followers. Still as relevant today as they were over two thousand years ago, these teachings together present a moral code that values virtue above all, and make up the core values of the Confucian tradition. This edition includes a full introduction that gives the social and political background of the ancient work, analyses of key terms in Chinese thought, and a careful study of the history of the book and its interpretations. There are also full notes illuminating the references to contemporary events and clarifying obscure passages. An essential work of literature and philosophy, The Analects of Confucius has shaped generations of readers around the world.
