The Art of Writing: Teachings of the Chinese Masters
There are three kinds of plagiarism in poetry writing. The clumsiest thief steals the words. Cheng Ju’s line “The light of sun and moon is heavenly virtue” is from Fu Changyu’s line “The light of sun and moon is transparent.” The second kind of plagiarist steals the idea. Consider Shen Chenqi’s lines:
The remains of summer flee from a small pond.
Coolness returns to the tips of tall trees first.
Now consider the original lines by Liu Hun:
Ripples arise in the pool.
Autumn comes to tall poplar trees.
The third type of theft doesn’t leave much trace. Wang Changlin’s lines go:
With two carp in my hand
I watch wild geese fall into distance.
The original lines by Qi Kang are
My eyes see of migrating cranes.
From VARIETIES IN A POETIC GARDEN{C}{C} (Various 1996, 56-57){C}
Great Tang Dynasty Lines
Lines that creat a sense of insight:
Treat a horse with respect if you still owe paymens.
A borrowed errand boy won’t pay you any mind.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Yao He
From this tall tower I’m surprised at the rainstorm’s vastness.
When the leaves fall the walled city feels empty.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Li Dong
Remote temple. Few monks visit.
Few travellers cross the rickety bridge.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Xu Hun
Lines that carry you into a painting:
The spring tide rushes in as the evening storms.
Nobody on the wild ferryboat-it spins.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Wei Yinwu
Deep in the sun-filled sky-one wild goose.
A slow, solitary sail on the vast sea.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Li Bai
Near the river village, rain hangs from a cloud.
An overgrown temple edges into the ball of sunset.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Cen Can
Wind-tossed lotus surprises the bathing birds.
Traveling fish gather in the bridge’s shadow.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Anonymous
Lines about traveling:
The birds have all returned to their trees.
A traveller struggles up a mountain.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Ren Fan
{C}{C}(Various 1996, 67-68){C}
Bibliography
{C}Various. The Art of Writing: Teachings of the Chinese Masters. Translated by Tony Barnstone and Chou Ping. Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1996.
{C}
The remains of summer flee from a small pond.
Coolness returns to the tips of tall trees first.
Now consider the original lines by Liu Hun:
Ripples arise in the pool.
Autumn comes to tall poplar trees.
The third type of theft doesn’t leave much trace. Wang Changlin’s lines go:
With two carp in my hand
I watch wild geese fall into distance.
The original lines by Qi Kang are
My eyes see of migrating cranes.
From VARIETIES IN A POETIC GARDEN{C}{C} (Various 1996, 56-57){C}
Great Tang Dynasty Lines
Lines that creat a sense of insight:
Treat a horse with respect if you still owe paymens.
A borrowed errand boy won’t pay you any mind.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Yao He
From this tall tower I’m surprised at the rainstorm’s vastness.
When the leaves fall the walled city feels empty.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Li Dong
Remote temple. Few monks visit.
Few travellers cross the rickety bridge.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Xu Hun
Lines that carry you into a painting:
The spring tide rushes in as the evening storms.
Nobody on the wild ferryboat-it spins.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Wei Yinwu
Deep in the sun-filled sky-one wild goose.
A slow, solitary sail on the vast sea.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Li Bai
Near the river village, rain hangs from a cloud.
An overgrown temple edges into the ball of sunset.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Cen Can
Wind-tossed lotus surprises the bathing birds.
Traveling fish gather in the bridge’s shadow.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Anonymous
Lines about traveling:
The birds have all returned to their trees.
A traveller struggles up a mountain.
{C}{C}n {C}{C}Ren Fan
{C}{C}(Various 1996, 67-68){C}
Bibliography
{C}Various. The Art of Writing: Teachings of the Chinese Masters. Translated by Tony Barnstone and Chou Ping. Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1996.
{C}