Explore "A History of Chinese Literature" by Herbert A. Giles on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The centuries which elapsed between A.D. 200 and 600 were not favourable to the development and growth of a national literature. During a great part of the time the empire was torn by civil wars; there was not much leisure for book-learning, and few patrons to encourage it. Still the work was carried on, and many great names have come down to us.
The dark years between A.D. 196 and 221, which witnessed the downfall of the House of Han, were illumined by the names of seven writers, now jointly known as the Seven Scholars of the Chien-An period. They were all poets. There was HSÜ KAN, who fell under the influence of Buddhism and translated into Chinese the /Pranyamûla shâstra tikâ/ of Nâgârdjuna. The following lines are by him: "O floating clouds that swim in heaven above, Bear on your wings these words to him I love. . Alas! you float along nor heed my pain, And leave me here to love and long in vain! I see other dear ones to their homes return, And for his coming shall not I too yearn? Since my lord left--ah me, unhappy day!-- My mirror's dust has not been brushed away; My heart, like running water, knows no peace, But bleeds and bleeds forever without cease."