Yes, that's him! Although his criticism in his later years was not good, it did not affect his immortal achievements at all. Xu Yuanchong, a centenarian and a famous translator, will present 50 famous works created by Bai Juyi in his life by using romantic realism in the English version of Selected Poems of Xu Yuanchong, and taste the "poetry" and "Tao" written by Lotte.
Bai Juyi is called "Poet Magic" and "Poet King" by later generations, and he is a representative figure of realistic poets. Together with Yuan Zhen, he advocated the New Yuefu Movement, which was called "Bai Yuan" and Liu Yuxi was called "Bai Liu", and he was one of the three great poets in the Tang Dynasty. His poems have a wide range of themes and the language is easy to understand. It is said that after writing a poem, an illiterate old woman can read it. If he doesn't understand anything, he will change to enlightenment.
Among Bai Juyi's 50 masterpieces translated by Lao Xu, we are familiar with Farewell to Ancient Grass, Song of Eternal Sorrow, Selling Charcoal Weng, Flowers Not Flowers, Pipa Play, Memorizing Jiangnan, Sauvignon Blanc and so on. Some of his classic poems are as follows:
Farewell, Fude Guyuan grass. Wildfire never devoured them. They grew taller in the spring breeze.
This is an eternal sad song. We hope that two birds will become one and fly in heaven. On the earth, two branches of a tree will grow together. ..
Eternal sad song, if she just turns her head and smiles, there are a hundred spells, and the powder and paint of six palaces disappear without a trace.
We were all unhappy during the trip to the pipa-we met at the ends of the earth. We understand. What is the relationship between acquaintances? .
Spring Tour of Qiantang Lake is becoming more and more fascinating, and shallow grass can be without horseshoes.
Then, what flavor will Lao Xu have after translating these classic poems into English?
Farewell to the ancient grass The fire tried in vain to burn them; When spring breeze blows, they will rise again.
Eternal regret is high above, we are birds of fly with me; On the earth, the branches of two trees twine from one spring to another.
Turning around, she smiled so sweetly and elegantly that she was the most beautiful face in the six palaces.
We both had the misfortune to walk from one coast to the other. Meet now. Is it necessary for us to know each other before?
Colorful flowers began to dazzle; Horseshoe can hardly be seen in the short grass.
Reading the Selected Poems of Bai Juyi translated by Xu Yuanchong is not only a brand-new interpretation of Bai Juyi's poems by Lao Xu, but also a brand-new artistic conception in Lao Xu's English translation. Every poem has been repeatedly pondered and studied by Lao Xu, and examined by native English speakers in order to achieve the most perfect restoration. Using English annotations to restore the misery of the poor in real life, the romance of youth, the fierce attack on current politics and the exposure of the luxury of the powerful in Bai Juyi's poems.
Lao Xu Bai Juyi wrote poems in two different periods. Bai Juyi wrote a lot of progressive poems before and after his relegation. After being demoted, negative thoughts prevailed, and there was quite a tendency to give up on themselves, which is also the reason why later generations will say that Bai Juyi's writing style was extremely poor in his later years.
No matter whether it is progressive or negative, Bai Juyi's poems always adhere to an idea: articles should be combined with the times, and songs and poems should be combined with each other. Mencius said that "being rich will help the world, and being poor will be immune to it" is the creed he followed all his life. Therefore, his poetry has beautiful language, easy to understand, harmonious tone, vivid image and strong political allegory.
If you want to know the Xiangshan layman who wrote the classic Song of Eternal Sorrow from many aspects, you might as well take a look at Xu Yuanchong's translation of Selected Poems of Lao Xu Bai Juyi with his exquisite English attainments, and take you to feel the poetic style of Bai Juyi, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty, in a brand-new context.