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Essays
Seaton's Cold Mountain Poems is his best book yet, from an illustrious career. (Full disclosure—Seaton and I are long-time friends and colleagues.) Here he translates a generous selection of the 307 poems in the Han Shan collection, 20 of 42 extant Shih Te poems, and 27 of the many poems from the three Wang Fan-chih scrolls. Han Shan and Shih Te, made famous by poet Gary Snyder, have nevertheless not been translated much, and only ten poems by Fan-chih had been translated before. All three of these poets are from the T'ang era—a time (618-907) famous for its poets (Tu Fu being perhaps the most well-known in the West). The first two poets are inseparable in Chinese Zen literature with Shih Te serving as sort of a side-kick to Han Shan. They represent the earlier periods of the T'ang when the culture was rich and expansive. Their work, despite being the work of ragged witty sages who have chosen the way of poverty, reflects the comforts of the outside world. Considered bodhisattvas, Han Shan and Shih Te preach against the ways of greed and riches. Living up to their role as sages, their poems became tools for Chinese Zen (Ch'an) which was strongly influenced by Mahayana missionary goals. But Ch'an sitting mediation also appears over and over again in the poems. Fan-chih wrote near the end of the T'ang as the culture collapsed, and so his poems are full of people's suffering. Seaton's introduction which explains the histories (and what curious biographies they are) of all three poets and their work (who are really, like Homer, more than one poet, and at least in the latter two, perhaps not actual poets at all) vibrantly engages the reader not only with the facts but with subtle comparisons between our time and theirs. I think this is Seaton's best book because he lets his own experience shine through, with sparkling little asides about his own seeking, and the way these poets, and other poet-sages have affected his life. The notes to the poems flash with brilliant insights and entertaining and informative particulars, too. I really can't say enough about this volume. It should have received much more attention than it has, for Seaton's personal additions work as commentaries every bit as wise as the poets' words, and the poems are simply beautiful—graceful, effortless directives for living. To close I'll just give you a taste of each poet.
Fields, a house, many mulberry trees, fine gardens!
A long way off, I see men in the dirt,
There's wind and dust come right on in
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