I lived from 699-759. I was from China, and am in the Asian category.
sometimes I'd walk, walk far from home,
the things I've seen, and I alone
Born in China in 699, Wang Wei was a poet, artist and musician. He also served in court as a high ranking official until the death of his wife when he retired into a Buddhist monastery on the banks of the river Wang.
In Wei's poetry the landscape is clearly seen through the eyes of the painter, and written mainly in quatrains, his descriptions of mountains, valleys and the rare contact with other people is displayed in a very concrete image. This lead to him being described as the first master of atmosphere and foremost poet of the greay Tang dynasty. Wei was an admirer of the poet Tao Qian, and a simular although slightly more refined style, can clearly be seen.
Much of his work give an insight into the weekend countryside retreats which many courtiers used to escape the pressure of high society court protocol, and teach us the value of nature through the Buddhist perception.
Many of Wei's poems were originally accompanied buy his paintings, but the passage of time has seen most of his paintings disappear into obscurity, but fortunately many of his poems have survived and since 1951 many have been translated into English by Chang Yin-nan, L. C. Walmsley and others.
Wang Wei is believed to have remained at the monastery until his death in 759
the things I've seen, and I alone
Born in China in 699, Wang Wei was a poet, artist and musician. He also served in court as a high ranking official until the death of his wife when he retired into a Buddhist monastery on the banks of the river Wang.
In Wei's poetry the landscape is clearly seen through the eyes of the painter, and written mainly in quatrains, his descriptions of mountains, valleys and the rare contact with other people is displayed in a very concrete image. This lead to him being described as the first master of atmosphere and foremost poet of the greay Tang dynasty. Wei was an admirer of the poet Tao Qian, and a simular although slightly more refined style, can clearly be seen.
Much of his work give an insight into the weekend countryside retreats which many courtiers used to escape the pressure of high society court protocol, and teach us the value of nature through the Buddhist perception.
Many of Wei's poems were originally accompanied buy his paintings, but the passage of time has seen most of his paintings disappear into obscurity, but fortunately many of his poems have survived and since 1951 many have been translated into English by Chang Yin-nan, L. C. Walmsley and others.
Wang Wei is believed to have remained at the monastery until his death in 759
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