Fifty-Five T'ang Poems: A Text in the Reading and Understanding of T'ang Poetry (Far Eastern Publications Series)

Four masters of the shi form of Chinese poetry, who are generally considered to be giants in the entire history of Chinese literature, are represented in this book: three from the eighth century, and one from the ninth. A few works by other well-known poets are also included. The author provides a general background sketch, instruction to the student, a description of the phonological system and the spelling used, as well as an outline of the grammar of T'ang shi, insofar as it is known.