While reading The Silk Dragon II, it is difficult to believe the majority of these poems were written centuries ago. Arthur Sze takes poems spanning the entirety of China’s poetic history and weaves them into a rich anthology, preserving each style and form. He guides the reader through China’s potent poetic history with poems that share themes and ambiance. The preface and introduction eloquently set the mood for the following poems and establish the clear motivation to honor the original poetry’s form, meter, and diction. Sze narrates the groundwork of his translation process and impact of Chinese history on each poem, especially the May Fourth Movement of 1919 and how it shaped the vernacular of future Chinese poets.
The details Sze provides on his translation process are incredibly detailed, describing how he tackles each poem’s form, meter, word choice, and tone to create an extremely thorough translation. Including his drafting and review process, it is clear that Sze has taken every variable into account when translating. He considers the emotions each poem wants to evoke and ensures they are exemplified and felt across languages and centuries. Themes of solitude, love, relationships and communal perseverance permeate this collection and constantly captivate the reader. Some poems may have required a more detailed note section, but most poems are perfectly comprehensible to a reader without knowledge of China’s history.
A majority of these poems can be considered “ancient” but Sze also includes contemporary poems that fit with the collection. Modern poets such as Wang Jiaxin and Zhai Yongming fit in snugly along with Tang legends such as Wang Wei and Du Fu. Sze highlights various styles that coalesce into the core of Chinese poetic history, such as the Lushi, the Ci, and the Qu. The Silk Dragon II serves as a brilliant introduction to Chinese poetry, old and new. Sze’s poem selection and renovated translations bring a vibrant new angle to Chinese poetry that is accessible and can easily be appreciated by any reader.
