Civilizational Canons · LC2

Cosmos & Nature

Gazing up at the cosmos and observing all creation: the profound resonance between poetic sensibility and celestial movements.

51works

9dynasties

37authors

Cosmos & Nature encompasses poetic inquires into the origin of the universe, cosmic cycles, and astronomical awe, featuring Qu Yuan's Heavenly Questions, Cao Cao's cosmic oceanic horizons, and classical moonlight rhapsodies.

Masterpieces

14 works

Zhou

10 works

1046–221 BCE

  1. The Man of Qi Who Feared the Sky Would FallLie Yukou · Philosophers' FablesWorrying endlessly over what will not happen only torments yourself.
  2. The Way Follows NatureLaozi · IdiomsThe Dao takes what is natural as its model; follow things as they are rather than forcing them.
  3. The Man of Qi Fears the Sky Will FallLie Yukou (Liezi) (traditionally attributed) · IdiomsNeedless or groundless worry.
  4. Songs of ChuLiu Xiang (comp.) · Chu ElegiesLong, long is the road and far the journey; I shall search high and low.
  5. ZhuangziZhuangzi (traditionally attributed) · Pre-Qin MastersHeaven and Earth were born together with me, and the ten thousand things and I are one.
  6. Classic of the Way and VirtueLaozi (traditionally attributed) · Pre-Qin MastersThe Way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; the name that can be named is not the constant name.
  7. XunziXunzi (Xun Kuang) · Pre-Qin MastersBlue dye comes from the indigo plant, yet it is bluer than the plant.
  8. Book of ChangesKing Wen of Zhou (traditionally attributed) · Pre-Qin MastersHeaven moves with vigor; the noble person, accordingly, strives to strengthen himself without ceasing.
  9. Book of DocumentsAnonymous (records of court scribes of Yu, Xia, Shang and Zhou; traditionally edited by Confucius) · Historical NarrativeLike a net held by its main cord, there is order and no confusion.
  10. Master Lü's Spring and Autumn AnnalsLü Buwei (comp.) · Pre-Qin MastersTwelve almanacs, eight surveys and six discourses drawing on all the schools.

Han

9 works

202 BCE – 220 CE

  1. Rhapsody on the OwlJia Yi · Grand Han RhapsodiesHeaven and earth are the furnace, creation is the smith; yin and yang are the charcoal, all things the bronze.
  2. Nüwa Mends the SkyLiu An (comp.) · IdiomsThe goddess Nüwa smelts five-colored stones to repair the broken sky; heroic effort to set a collapsing world right.
  3. The Cowherd and the Weaver GirlAnonymous · IdiomsLovers separated by the Milky Way who meet once a year; couples living apart who rarely reunite.
  4. Huainanzi (The Masters of Huainan)Liu An (comp.) · Pre-Qin MastersThe Way covers Heaven and upholds Earth; it extends the four directions and opens the eight extremities; so high it cannot be reached, so deep it cannot be fathomed.
  5. Nüwa Mends the HeavensAnonymous · Ancient MythsNüwa smelted stones of five colors to patch the azure sky.
  6. Yi Shoots Down the SunsAnonymous · Ancient MythsAbove, he shot the ten suns; below, he killed Yayu.
  7. Gonggong Topples Mount BuzhouAnonymous · Ancient MythsHeaven tilted toward the northwest, and so the sun, moon, stars and planets shifted that way.
  8. The Cowherd and the Weaver GirlAnonymous · Folk LegendsJust one brimming stretch of water between them, yet they gaze and gaze and cannot speak.
  9. Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and AutumnDong Zhongshu (traditionally attributed) · Pre-Qin MastersThe three bonds of the kingly Way can be sought in Heaven.

Three Kingdoms

4 works

220–280

  1. Gazing Across the Vast SeaCao Cao · Yuefu BalladsThe journeys of sun and moon seem to issue from its depths; the brilliant galaxy appears to rise from within.
  2. Separating Heaven and EarthXu Zheng · IdiomsFrom the myth of Pangu splitting heaven from earth; since the dawn of time, or an unprecedented feat.
  3. Pangu Separates Heaven and EarthAnonymous · Ancient MythsHeaven and earth were in chaos like a hen's egg, and Pangu was born within it.
  4. Commentary on the LaoziWang Bi · Pre-Qin MastersAll being begins from non-being.

Tang

11 works

618–907

  1. Heaven Answered · ExcerptLiu Zongyuan · Chu ElegiesAnswer: The vastness of the primal beginning is something told by fabulists. Its great spirit, dim and tangled, how can it be put into words? Darkness and light, faint and minute, came and went in ceaseless profusion; through murky transformations only the primal qi endured, so what was there that 'brought it about'?
  2. West Stream at ChuzhouWei Yingwu · Regulated QuatrainsThe spring flood, swelled by rain, runs fast at dusk; at the wild ferry no one is there, and the boat swings crosswise by itself.
  3. A Moonlit Night on the Spring RiverZhang Ruoxu · Old-Style SongsWho on the riverbank first saw this moon? In what year did the river moon first shine on a person?
  4. Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu, No. 2Li Bai · Regulated QuatrainsIts flying torrent plunges straight down three thousand feet; I wonder if the Milky Way is falling from the ninth heaven.
  5. Welcoming Rain on a Spring NightDu Fu · Regulated OctavesIt follows the wind, slipping secretly into the night, moistening all things finely, without a sound.
  6. Deer EnclosureWang Wei · Regulated QuatrainsThe returning light enters the deep forest and shines again upon the green moss.
  7. River SnowLiu Zongyuan · Regulated QuatrainsIn a lone boat, an old man in straw cape and hat fishes alone in the snow on the cold river.
  8. Gazing at Tianmen MountainLi Bai · Regulated QuatrainsGreen mountains on both banks stand out facing each other; a single lone sail comes from beside the sun.
  9. Spring DawnMeng Haoran · Regulated QuatrainsIn the night came the sound of wind and rain; how many blossoms have fallen, who can tell?
  10. Mountain WalkDu Mu · Regulated QuatrainsI stop my carriage simply because I love the maple wood at dusk; the frost-touched leaves are redder than the flowers of the second month.
  11. Ode to the WillowHe Zhizhang · Regulated QuatrainsWho cut out these slender leaves, I wonder? The spring wind of the second month, like a pair of scissors.

Song

11 works

960–1279

  1. First Rhapsody on the Red CliffSu Shi · Prose RhapsodiesLodging like mayflies between heaven and earth, tiny as a single grain in the vast ocean. Lamenting the transience of our brief life, envying the unending flow of the Great Yangtze. Only the clear breeze over the river and the bright moon among mountains: when ear hears it, it becomes sound; when eye meets it, it becomes color. Taking without prohibition, using without exhaustion—this is the boundless inexhaustible treasury of the Creator.
  2. Rhapsody on the Sounds of AutumnOuyang Xiu · Prose RhapsodiesGrasses and trees have no feelings, yet in their season they wither and fall.
  3. Unity of Heaven and HumanityZhang Zai · IdiomsThe philosophical ideal that heaven and humankind form one whole; harmony between people and nature.
  4. On Huichong's Painting 'Spring River at Dusk', No. 1Su Shi · Regulated QuatrainsWhen the spring river warms, the ducks are first to know.
  5. Leaving Jingci Temple at Dawn to See Off Lin ZifangYang Wanli · Regulated QuatrainsLotus leaves reaching to the sky, an endless green; lotus blossoms catching the sun, a red like no other.
  6. Tune: Xi Jiang Yue — Walking the Huangsha Road at NightXin Qiji · Short LyricsIn the fragrance of rice blossom there is talk of a good harvest; listen, a whole field of frogs is croaking.
  7. Written on the Wall of Xilin TempleSu Shi · Regulated QuatrainsI cannot know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I myself am within this mountain.
  8. Drinking on the Lake, First Clear, Then Rain, No. 2Su Shi · Regulated QuatrainsIf I were to compare West Lake to Xi Shi, light make-up or heavy, either way she is lovely.
  9. The Little PondYang Wanli · Regulated QuatrainsA little lotus leaf has only just shown its sharp tip, and already a dragonfly stands upon it.
  10. Classified Conversations of Master ZhuZhu Xi · NotebooksBefore Heaven and Earth existed there was after all only principle.
  11. At Ehu, Matching the Rhymes of My Elder Brother the InstructorLu Jiuyuan · Regulated OctavesThe work of ease and simplicity will in the end be lasting and great; the enterprise of fragmentation will after all drift and sink.

Ming

2 works

1368–1644

  1. The Travel Diaries of Xu XiakeXu Xiake (Xu Hongzu) · Travel WritingOn the last day of the third month of the guichou year, I left Ninghai by the west gate. The clouds scattered and the sun shone bright; the mood of men and the light on the hills alike wore a look of joy.
  2. Inquiry on the Great LearningWang Shouren · Essays & MemorialsThe great man is one who regards Heaven, Earth and the ten thousand things as one body. He sees the world as one family and the Middle Kingdom as one person.