Zhao Yi (赵翼, 1727–1814), courtesy name Yunshong and art name Oubei, was a towering intellectual of the Qing Dynasty. A brilliant scholar who achieved high rank in the imperial examinations, he was equally respected as a meticulous historian and a vibrant poet. His monumental work of historical criticism, Nianer Shi Zhaji, established him as one of the most analytical minds of his era, yet it was his poetry that captured his spirited, forward-thinking philosophy.
Zhao Yi was a champion of Literary Evolution. He famously rejected the blind imitation of ancient masters, arguing that every era produces its own unique geniuses who define their own time. His most iconic quatrain on poetry remains a cornerstone of Chinese literary theory, reminding readers that even the greats like Li Bai and Du Fu must eventually make way for new voices. His work radiates a Vibe of Intellectual Vitality, blending historical depth with a sharp, contemporary wit that prioritized sincerity and originality over rigid tradition.
At CN-Poetry, we explore the energetic and insightful voice of Zhao Yi through scholarly English translations. Experience the "Vibe" of a man who looked at the past to empower the future—where every generation is invited to "lead the way for hundreds of years." Discover the dynamic legacy of the Master of Oubei within our digital archives.
The Shih-ching and Ch’u Tz’u, the two oldest anthologies of Chinese poetry.
Read Translation & Analysis →The poems of Li Po and Tu Fu, passed along myriad voices,
No longer seem in this modern era so fresh and new.
Every age these rivers and hills produce a genius,
Each capturing in spirit the Odes and Song1 for scores of decades.
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.
