Three Hundred Tang Poems
Three Hundred Tang Poems is a selection of Tang dynasty poetry compiled by Sun Zhu, known by his studio name Hengtang Tuishi, during the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty. It contains 310 poems by 77 authors and is the most widely circulated and influential introductory anthology of Tang poetry. Though not an official Tang dynasty collection, it is a carefully curated "essence of Tang poetry," encompassing various forms, periods, and representative works of major poets, making it the premier textbook for later generations studying classical Chinese poetry.
The anthology covers diverse poetic forms, including five-character and seven-character ancient verse, regulated verse, and quatrains. It features masterpieces by great poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei, and Bai Juyi, as well as fine works by lesser-known poets. Poems like Quiet Night Thought, Spring Dawn, On the Stork Tower, Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night, Invitation to Wine, and My Thatched Roof Torn by the Autumn Wind have long been embedded in everyday cultural memory. In his preface, the compiler emphasizes "preserving both orthodox and variant styles while including all forms," reflecting his editorial vision of balancing artistry with representativeness.
As a primer for elementary education, Three Hundred Tang Poems, along with Poems of a Thousand Masters, has shaped the poetic enlightenment of the Chinese people. Numerous annotated and commented editions have appeared over the centuries, with those by Chen Wanjun and Hengtang Tuishi being particularly widespread. The themes of landscapes, frontier fortresses, boudoir laments, and historical reflections carried by many of these poems provide important windows into understanding the aesthetics of Tang poetry and Tang dynasty society.
Although not a complete collection of original texts, this anthology remains the most convenient and classic gateway into the world of Tang poetry. Reading it allows one to experience the grandeur of the High Tang and the vigor of the Middle and Late Tang through three hundred celebrated poems, appreciating the high achievements of classical Chinese poetry in prosody, imagery, and emotional expression.