The classical Chinese original has been versified in English by poet Evan Mantyk and is read by him at the Society of Classical Poets’ in-person Poetry Symposium held in Naperville, Illinois on September 5-6, 2025.
The translation and original Chinese can be read here: https://www.classicalpoets.org/preface-to-the-poems-composed-at-the-orchid-pavilion-a-rhyming-poetry-translation/
Video created by Andrew Benson Brown.
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Beautiful translation, Evan! You made the challenging work look easy.
Evan, I am as moved by the greatness of your brilliant translation and your dramatic reading of the poem accentuating meaningful clauses, as much as by the depth of meaning of life and death conveyed by Wang Xizhi.
I can only echo Michael and Roy. You’re also blessed with being a good reader and make it look easy.
“When looking up, the universe is vast; When looking down, abundance fills the earth.” Your poem seems to encompass the universality of human experience — as good poetry does — joy, longing, and sadness as well: “How wonderful to know joy’s greatest height!” Yet “all is ordained to turn to dust, and sink.” One day, time will have “undone us all.” Beautifully expressed!
The poem is moving, and for some strange reason the temporal specificity of it (an actual date in A.D. 353, in a named place) was the most moving aspect of all. How many of us have fantasized about having a film or a tape recording of some event in the distant past, and seeing and hearing a long-dead person speak to us as if we were transported into his era? Evan has made that possible in the case of Wang Xizhi.
Thank you all for your comments. This was a great poetic experience thanks to Russel Winick who hosted the event. Thank you to Andrew Benson Brown for making the video happen. This work is highly regarded for its calligraphy, which I think reflects the charming and universal message. It’s great material to work with!
The Orchid Pavilion gathering must be the most renowned meeting of poets ever to happen. I first heard of it when studying Japanese poetry. When you, Evan, published the present work here at the Society, you said you did the translation to provide a pleasant introduction to the event–otherwise unavailable. I agree. I’ve looked hither and yon for the story of floating wine cups, and rarely does the Orchid Pavilion even come up as the location.
Your reading and Andrew’s video are wonderful! The occasion at Russel Winick’s home was fabulous! However, anyone who wants to see the printed text and read meditatively for himself or herself, should use the Search function by clicking on the magnifying glass top right, and typing in “Orchid Pavilion.”
Thank you, Margaret. Good idea. I’ve added the link above.
-Evan