High Plains Drifter: Li Shangyin

Though not as famous as his predecessors, Li Shangyin, the premier poet from the Late Tang, is an amazing poet. Furthermore, his adoration for Du Fu and other Tang poets helped create the cult of the Tang that is still going on in China.

Li Shangyin

In today’s podcast, Rob and Lee take a look at a short poem that is often read as being a sign of the impending end of the Tang Dynasty.

向晚意不適

驅車登古原

夕陽無限好

只是近黃昏

The Plains of Leyou

Approaching evening, an uncomfortable feeling

I drive the carriage, mounting the old plains

The setting sun, limitlessly good

its only that…dusk is approaching