Volume I of One Hundred of the Most Beautiful Poems of Chengdu: Land of Poetry and Abundance was published by Sichuan University Press. It is the first volume of the four-volume book series mainly translated by Wang Yige, a high-end foreign expert and distinguished Research Fellow at Chengdu University (CDU). This book is also a phased achievement of the 2021 International Chinese Education Innovation Project that is sponsored by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and led by Du Jie, Dean of the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures. It is also the achievement of the 2021-2023 Key Project of Talent Cultivation Quality and Teaching Reform of CDU. This book is completed by the College of Overseas Education and the International Chinese Education and International Communication Research Team of the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures.
The cover of Volume I was designed by young painter Tian Haisu
The four-volume book series of bilingual readers of One Hundred of the Most Beautiful Poems of Chengdu: Land of Poetry and Abundance refines to display the spiritual symbol and cultural essence of Chengdu culture, tells well China's stories with regional characteristics, and makes China's voice with regional recognition heard. By deeply exploring the rich connotations of Chengdu's poetic culture and the poetic life of a beautiful and livable park city in modern Chengdu, it vividly presents to the world that Chengdu, as one of the top ten ancient capitals of China, is the "First City of Chinese Poetry".
Based on Professor Yang Yuhua's Detailed Comments on the 100 Most Beautiful Ancient Poems about Chengdu, One Hundred of the Most Beautiful Poems of Chengdu: Land of Poetry and Abundance highlights the holographic connection between regional culture and traditional Chinese culture with unique contents from the 100 most beautiful ancient poems about Chengdu that covers local culture. In the poems, there are not only mountains and rivers, but also people and things, as well as the unique food and scenery of Chengdu. In the series, readers can appreciate the beautiful and magnificent natural scenery of Chengdu through poems such as A Quatrain, Rejoicing Rain on a Spring Night, To the Tune of Langtaosha, Chengdu as I See It, and The River Jin Quatrain. They may feel like wandering the streets and alleys in Chengdu through poems such as the Prime Minister of Shu, Autumn Gales Rent My Thatched Hut , Wen Weng Stone Academy,, the Lute Stand, and Qingyang Temple to feel the historical and cultural charm of Chengdu. Poems such as To the Local Commander, December 11th on a Dike Construction Site, A Vernacular Lyric to Send Mr. Yang to Shu, Song of Begging for Handcrafted Colored Note-papers, and the Chuan Fan give readers a chance to learn about the folk customs and artifacts in Chengdu. In addition, poems such as Bamboo Song of the Brocade City-Mapo Tofu, Ribbing at My Vegetarian Diet, and Sampling Tea Shared by a Monk Residing in Mist on Double Ninth fully demonstrate the rich food culture of Chengdu.
The calligrapher Tian Xuzhong wrote the calligraphy gatefold for Volume I
One Hundred of the Most Beautiful Poems of Chengdu: Land of Poetry and Abundance is an important contribution to the construction of international Chinese education and teaching resources, which will be widely promoted as curriculum teaching materials and extracurricular books for international students in China. International Chinese education is a public language culture provided by China to the world, and an important platform for communication and understanding between China and the world. The bilingual series is not only good for learning the language, but also helps cultural communication. While introducing poems about Chengdu to foreign readers, the series highlights the complementary beauty of calligraphy, painting, and poetry, reflecting the integration of traditional art and modern expression. Mr. Tian Xuzhong, a calligrapher and former President of Chengdu Art Academy, whose calligraphy style is smooth, elegant, and vivid, interprets the 100 most beautiful ancient poems with five styles of calligraphy: seal, clerical, cursive, semi-cursive, and regular script. Associate Professor Tian Haisu, a teacher at the College of Overseas Education and young painter, designed the cover of the book and offered illustrations for the series. The series not only tells the story and promotes the culture of Chengdu but also reflects the resonance between traditional Chinese art and culture.
Hopefully the Volume I of the series will surprise readers as we expect.
