A Thousand Peaks : Poems from China [Hardcover]

Siyu Liu (Author), Orel Protopopescu (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

A collection of thirty-five poems spanning nineteen centuries, representing both famous and lesser-known poets, including both the Chinese text and a literal translation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Thousand Peaks: Poems from China by Siyu Liu and Orel Protopopescu, illus. by Siyu Liu, is not your average poetry collection. Within the three sections organized under headings such as "Social Structure" each poem amplifies the theme, and informative text below often includes a brief bio of the poet. For instance, in the first section, "Pity the Farmer," describing the peasant work ethic, is paired with "Passing Huaqing Palace," the emperor's home from which "a concubine smiles" both written during the Tang dynasty. In the center of the spread, the literal translation appears below traditional Chinese characters. Resource listings and a guide to Chinese language pronunciation are included. A delicate watercolor scene opens each section.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 & Up--An authentic introduction to Chinese poetry and culture. Each of the 35 poems, selected from two millennia of Chinese literature and translated into graceful English verse, is placed on its own page in a handsome, open design. Several prose paragraphs offer cultural context for each selection, while a sidebar displays the poem in its original characters, adding their pinyin transliterations and a literal English translation. Small black-and-white drawings that highlight a relevant character complete the page. Different English translators of compressed, allusive classical Chinese have interpreted these well-known poems in various ways. This unique collection invites readers to get into the act by comparing the Chinese original with this version, and perhaps exercising their own poetic skills in an attempt to understand another culture. Introductions to the three thematic sections explain social structure, scholar-officials, and love of nature. A concise, cogent introduction to Chinese poetry begins the collection and an author's afterword explains the translation process. The five full-page color paintings, literal renderings of Chinese-style art, are pleasant enough, though not as distinguished as Jean and Mou-sien Tseng's art for Minfong Ho's Maples in the Mist (Lothrop, 1996). Ho translated a couple of the same poems, but her collection, limited to famous poems from the Tang Dynasty, was aimed at younger children. This new volume spans the years between the third century Han Dynasty and the Communist era, and features many female poets. It's about as close to Chinese literature as young English-speaking readers can get.

Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Pacific View Pr (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881896242
• ISBN-13: 978-1881896241
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,110,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compare translations and interpret the true meaning, January 11, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Thousand Peaks : Poems from China (Hardcover)

Although A Thousand Peaks: Poems From China is the size of a standard children's picturebook, do not be deceived; its haunting, lyrical poems are intended to delight and fascinate poetry lovers of all ages. Striking, full-color illustrations intersperse the historical poems. Each poem comes with a few paragraphs of commentary regarding what is known about the poet and the historical events affecting the poem. What truly sets A Thousand Peaks apart, however, is that the poems themselves are offered in bilingual format: their original Chinese characters, the romanized version of the Chinese words, a very strictly literal translation, and the modern poetic translation that attempts to properly ascribe nuances. Poetry devotees can compare translations and interpret the true meaning, heart, and soul of each poem for themselves. Storm At Lakeview Tower: Splattering mountains, ink-black clouds sweep by./Bouncing on boats, pearl white raindrops fly./Rolling around the earth, wind scattered clouds/until, under Lakeview Tower, water is sky. (Su Shi, 1036-1101, Song dynasty).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, April 22, 2003

By 

Lady "lady-in-nj" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Thousand Peaks : Poems from China (Hardcover)

If you, or you and your children, need an introduction to Chinese classical peotry, and you don't read Chinese, BUY this book -- and Maples in the Mist, edited by Minfong Ho. This book gives the Chinese characters, pinyin (learn pinyin so you can proonounce it in Mandarin), the translation and a story about the poem.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thousand Peaks is a small treasure., February 2, 2007

By 

Lisa "lp" (Ann Arbor, MI, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Thousand Peaks : Poems from China (Hardcover)

This is a picture book with a small collection of poems from throughout Chinese history.

A poem appears 3 times: in chinese script, aa a literal translation into english, and as a poetic translation into english. There is also some background information for each poem. The only thing I could wish for, are more poems.

I found this book extremely satisfying to add to my lesson block on China. I paired it easily with two other books, so my students and could try our hand at Chinese calligraphy: #1 The British Museum; Chinese Caligraphy; Standard Script for Beginniners, to learn the strokes. #2 What's in a Chinese Character, to confirm and translate a chosen character from the poem.

I also, of course, invested in a few chinese calligraphy sets. The small ones are fine. You just need an ink stone, a well, a brush, and some rice paper.