# Chinese Classics & Poetry — Vivien's Recommendations

As I wrap up site development, I finally have time to dive into the deep lit world my friend Vivien introduced me to. 
Below is a complete tabled overview of the Chinese classics and poetry she recommended, complete with her thoughts and why 
they matter.

---

## Poetry & Poets

| Title / Poet | Pinyin | What it is | Vivien’s take / why start here |
|--------------|--------|------------|--------------------------------|
| **苏轼** | Sū Shì | Song-dynasty master of *cí* lyric poetry | “My idol!!! His poems **and** essays are all gems; his upbeat view of life is worth learning.” |
|  **定风波** | Dìng Fēng Bō | lyric written in exile | See how Su turns hardship into calm humour. |
|   **念奴娇·赤壁怀古** | Niàn Nú Jiāo · Chì Bì Huái Gǔ | lyric on the Red Cliff | Grand historical sweep + personal feeling. |
|   **水调歌头** | Shuǐ Diào Gē Tóu | Mid-Autumn lyric to his brother | The famous “May we share the moon” line. |
| **辛弃疾** | Xīn Qì Jí | Late-Song patriot-poet | His bold military imagery balances Su’s cosmopolitan ease. |
| **李白** | Lǐ Bái | Tang “Immortal of Wine” | For exuberant free-spirited verse; try 《将进酒》. |
| **曹操** | Cáo Cāo | Statesman-poet of the Three Kingdoms | Read 《短歌行》 for the heroic *Jian’an* style. |
| **楚辞** | Chǔ Cí | Warring–States anthology of lyrical verse | On Vivien’s shortlist; good gateway to earlier poetic diction. |
| **人间词话** | Rén Jiān Cí Huà | Wang Guowei’s notes on *cí* aesthetics | Dip in once you’ve sampled Song lyrics – sharp, elegant criticism. |

> **Vivien’s note:**  
> Classic Chinese can feel tough at first; don’t hesitate to read modern annotated editions or bilingual versions. Learning by doing beats endless theory, so write your own verses alongside the reading!

---

## Literature / Classics

| Title | Pinyin | Genre & era | Quick orientation |
|-------|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| **《道德经》** | Dào Dé Jīng | Daoist philosophy, c. 4ᵗʰ BCE | 81 laconic chapters on *dao* & governance. |
| **《庄子》** | Zhuāng Zǐ | Daoist philosophy & tales | Playful paradoxes that loosen rigid thinking. |
| **《孟子》** | Mèng Zǐ | Confucian dialogues | Moral psychology & “benevolent government.” |
| **《荀子》** | Xún Zǐ | Confucian realism | Argues human nature is “bad” → need for ritual. |
| **《韩非子》** | Hán Fēi Zǐ | Legalist essays | Ruthless statecraft; counter-weights Mencius. |
| **《大学》** + 《原本大学微言》 | Dà Xué | Confucian primer + modern commentary | Path from self-cultivation to good rule. |
| **《周易》** ★ | Zhōu Yì | Classic of Changes | Vivien’s pick; read both text & commentaries. |
| **《吕氏春秋》** | Lǚ Shì Chūn Qiū | Encyclopedic Qin-era synthesis | Early attempt to blend the Hundred Schools. |
| **《鬼谷子》** | Guǐ Gǔ Zǐ | Strategy & persuasion | Rhetoric for diplomats and spies. |
| **《了凡四训》** | Liǎo Fán Sì Xùn | Ming self-cultivation manual | Karma, virtue, and practical life advice. |
| **《增广贤文》** ★ | Zēng Guǎng Xián Wén | Ming proverb anthology | Compact wisdom; great for aphoristic style. |
| **《战国策》** | Zhàn Guó Cè | “Warring-States Strategems” | Anecdotes & persuasion tactics of envoys. |
| **《左传》** | Zuǒ Zhuàn | Spring-&-Autumn history | Narrative history + moral judgment. |
| **《史记》** | Shǐ Jì | Grand Scribe’s Records | Foundation of Chinese historiography. |
| **《孙子兵法》** | Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ | The Art of War | Timeless strategy in 13 terse chapters. |
| **《三国演义》** | Sān Guó Yǎn Yì | Ming epic novel | “70 % history, 30 % fiction” – gripping, vast cast. |
| **《古文观止》** | Gǔ Wén Guān Zhǐ | Anthology of exemplary prose | Use for prose-style imitation drills. |
| **《郁离子》** | Yù Lí Zǐ | Yuan-dynasty fables | Philosophical allegories in terse prose. |
| **《警世通言》**, **《醒世恒言》**, **《喻世明言》** | Féng Mènglóng | Ming vernacular story collections | Morality tales; vivid characters and dialogue. |

> ★ = **Vivien explicitly recommended**

Thanks to Vivien for curating this treasure trove. I’m going to post reflections, translations, and analyses here as I go. If you’re reading any of these too, feel free to reach out or tag me in your own write-ups.

Next up: writing my own *ci* after Su Shi