Zhang Hua (张华, 232–300) was a towering figure of the Western Jin Dynasty, celebrated as a brilliant statesman, a profound scholar, and the leading literary light of his age. Rising from a humble background to become a high-ranking minister, he was famously known as a polymath, possessing an encyclopedic knowledge that culminated in his famous work, Bowu Zhi (Treatise on Manifold Things).
In the realm of literature, Zhang Hua acted as a crucial mentor and patron to the younger generation of poets, shaping the refined and intricate style of the Western Jin era. His poetry is characterized by its scholarly elegance and polished craftsmanship, often blending classical allusions with a serene intellectualism. He excelled in the "Fu" (prose-poetry) form and was instrumental in the transition toward the more formalistic beauty of later classical verse.
At CN-Poetry, we invite you to discover the sophisticated "Vibe" of Zhang Hua’s literary world. Our English translations strive to capture the poise and depth of his verses—reflecting the mind of a man who sought to categorize the wonders of the world while expressing the enduring dignity of the human spirit. Explore the works of this foundational master through our digital library.
By Zhang Hua
Read Translation & Analysis →A light wind stirs curtain and shutter,
Morning moon brightens my lonely room.
My love is dwelling very far away,
And my poor chamber is devoid of brightness.
I clutch an insubstantial shadow to my breast,
A light quilt covers my empty bed.
In happier times I lamented the shortness of the night,
But now, in misery, I hate it for its length.
Grasping my pillow, alone I moan and sigh,
Feelings of sorrow cutting deep into my heart.
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.
