Han Shan, Chan Buddhism and Gary Snyder's Ecopoetic Way
This book is a comparative study of the ninth-century Chinese poet Han Shan (Cold Mountain) and Gary Snyder, an American poet and environmental activist. Author Joan Tan explains how Chan Buddhism has the potential to be recognized as an important voice in contemporary ecopoetry. Chan/Zen theory is employed as aesthetic criteria to explicate the dual discourses - spiritual and aesthetic - which exist in Han Shan's and Snyder's work. Snyder's goal of establishing one ecosystem for all communities encouraged him to adopt Han Shan as an ideal model and Chan Buddhism as a global subculture representing environmental values. The book investigates how Snyder interweaves Chinese cultural sources in an eclectic way to impose a sense of place, a sense of mission, and a sense of energy in his ecopoetry. His unique ideogrammatic method - riprapping (developed as a result of his literary indebtedness to the Oriental tradition) - makes for a forceful statement on contemporary ecology. Through Snyder's successful translation, Han Shan has been revived as an immortal Beat Poet (Jack Kerouac features prominently in the chapters), while Cold Mountain has emerged as synonymous with enlightenment. Snyder himself has become an exemplary representative of an American Han Shan. The poetic line extending from Han Shan through to Chan/Zen to contemporary ecology is considered here as a continuum - a continuum profoundly enhanced by Snyder's remarkable achievement of eco-wholeness - the original goal of Han Shan in his ecopoetry. The book is complemented with full Chinese character text and glossary.
1015625463
Han Shan, Chan Buddhism and Gary Snyder's Ecopoetic Way
This book is a comparative study of the ninth-century Chinese poet Han Shan (Cold Mountain) and Gary Snyder, an American poet and environmental activist. Author Joan Tan explains how Chan Buddhism has the potential to be recognized as an important voice in contemporary ecopoetry. Chan/Zen theory is employed as aesthetic criteria to explicate the dual discourses - spiritual and aesthetic - which exist in Han Shan's and Snyder's work. Snyder's goal of establishing one ecosystem for all communities encouraged him to adopt Han Shan as an ideal model and Chan Buddhism as a global subculture representing environmental values. The book investigates how Snyder interweaves Chinese cultural sources in an eclectic way to impose a sense of place, a sense of mission, and a sense of energy in his ecopoetry. His unique ideogrammatic method - riprapping (developed as a result of his literary indebtedness to the Oriental tradition) - makes for a forceful statement on contemporary ecology. Through Snyder's successful translation, Han Shan has been revived as an immortal Beat Poet (Jack Kerouac features prominently in the chapters), while Cold Mountain has emerged as synonymous with enlightenment. Snyder himself has become an exemplary representative of an American Han Shan. The poetic line extending from Han Shan through to Chan/Zen to contemporary ecology is considered here as a continuum - a continuum profoundly enhanced by Snyder's remarkable achievement of eco-wholeness - the original goal of Han Shan in his ecopoetry. The book is complemented with full Chinese character text and glossary.
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Han Shan, Chan Buddhism and Gary Snyder's Ecopoetic Way

Han Shan, Chan Buddhism and Gary Snyder's Ecopoetic Way

by Joan Qionglin Tan
Han Shan, Chan Buddhism and Gary Snyder's Ecopoetic Way

Han Shan, Chan Buddhism and Gary Snyder's Ecopoetic Way

by Joan Qionglin Tan

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Overview

This book is a comparative study of the ninth-century Chinese poet Han Shan (Cold Mountain) and Gary Snyder, an American poet and environmental activist. Author Joan Tan explains how Chan Buddhism has the potential to be recognized as an important voice in contemporary ecopoetry. Chan/Zen theory is employed as aesthetic criteria to explicate the dual discourses - spiritual and aesthetic - which exist in Han Shan's and Snyder's work. Snyder's goal of establishing one ecosystem for all communities encouraged him to adopt Han Shan as an ideal model and Chan Buddhism as a global subculture representing environmental values. The book investigates how Snyder interweaves Chinese cultural sources in an eclectic way to impose a sense of place, a sense of mission, and a sense of energy in his ecopoetry. His unique ideogrammatic method - riprapping (developed as a result of his literary indebtedness to the Oriental tradition) - makes for a forceful statement on contemporary ecology. Through Snyder's successful translation, Han Shan has been revived as an immortal Beat Poet (Jack Kerouac features prominently in the chapters), while Cold Mountain has emerged as synonymous with enlightenment. Snyder himself has become an exemplary representative of an American Han Shan. The poetic line extending from Han Shan through to Chan/Zen to contemporary ecology is considered here as a continuum - a continuum profoundly enhanced by Snyder's remarkable achievement of eco-wholeness - the original goal of Han Shan in his ecopoetry. The book is complemented with full Chinese character text and glossary.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781845193416
Publisher: Sussex Academic Press
Publication date: 05/01/2009
Series: The Sussex Library of Asian Studies Series
Pages: 299
Product dimensions: 6.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Joan Qionglin Tan is an associate professor and the head of the English department at Hunan University. She is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society in the United Kingdom and a lecturer at the Centre for Chinese Studies of the University of Wales.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Abbreviations and Notes viii

List of Tables x

Introduction 1

1 Chan, Ecology and Ecology 32

Chan, Mind and Nature 32

The Aesthetics of Chan and Chan Poetry 47

Chan: the Sustainable Voice in Contemporary Ecopoetry 66

2 Han Shan's Poetic Way to Cold Mountain 84

Han Shan's Spiritual Quest for Chan Enlightenment 85

Oneness: Persona, Nature and Mind in Han Shan's Chan Poems 94

Artistic Techniques of Nature-Chan Images 103

The Status and Influence of Han Shan and His Cold Mountain Poems 119

3 Han Shan: Gary Snyder's Chinese Mythical Model 132

The Early Zest for Chan/Zen and Chinese Poetry 135

The Translation of Han Shan's Cold Mountain Poems 141

The Experimental Practice of Han Shan, Chan and Cold Mountain Poems 158

4 Han Shan, Chan and Ecology in Gary Snyder's Ecopoetry 185

Place: Plants, Animals and Land 187

Work: Body, Practice and Mind 203

Energy: Emptiness, Compassion and Enlightenment 214

5 Gary Snyder: An Exemplary Representative of an American Han Shan 226

'Moving the World a Millionth of an Inch' 227

Han Shan, Gary Snyder and Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums 237

'A Bit of a Han Shan Spirit' 243

Conclusion 255

Appendix 262

Glossary 265

Bibliography 270

Index 285

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