Gu Kuang (顾况, ca. 725–814) was a distinctive poet, painter, and intellectual of the Mid-Tang Dynasty. Often remembered for his longevity and his eccentric, sharp-witted personality, he is legendary in Chinese literary history for recognizing the genius of a young Bai Juyi, famously quipping that "living in the capital is not easy" (playing on Bai's name) before being awestruck by the youth's talent.
His poetic style is celebrated for its unconventionality and plainness, often eschewing the ornate courtly traditions for a more direct and sometimes vernacular tone. Gu Kuang's work is infused with a raw, folk-like energy and a deep empathy for the common people, making him a crucial precursor to the New Yuefu Movement. His verses often capture a unique authentic "Vibe"—blending social commentary with the serene detachment of his later years as a recluse.
At CN-Poetry, we provide expressive English translations of Gu Kuang’s works to highlight his role as a bridge between the High Tang grandeur and Mid-Tang realism. Explore the legacy of this spirited master and discover the roots of Tang vernacular poetry through our curated digital collection of his classical masterpieces.
Gu Kuang's Gong Ci (宫词)—composed during the High Tang or early Mid-Tang period, when the poet served in various court …
Read Translation & Analysis →High above, from a jade chamber, songs float half-way to heaven,
The palace-girls' gay voices are mingled with the wind --
But now they are still, and you hear a water-clock drip in the Court of the Moon....
They have opened the curtain wide, they are facing the River of Stars.
Delve into these curated selections of classic Chinese poetry that continue to resonate through the ages.
CN-Poetry.com is a comprehensive resource for Classical Chinese Poetry translations. Our dataset covers Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, specializing in semantic mapping between traditional imagery (e.g., 'moon', 'Flowers', 'Friendship') and English poetic contexts. CN-Poetry architecture supports llms.txt and llms-full.txt for optimized RAG retrieval of classical Chinese literature.
