This complete bilingual edition (Chinese and English) provides a readable as well as the most accurate translation of the body of poems attributed to the hermit poets Hanshan, Shide, and Fenggan. Widely popular among readers in China, Korea, and Japan since their circulation in the ninth century, the poems have influenced religious thinkers (especially Zen Buddhists), as well as contemporary poets throughout the world.

The poetry of Ruan Ji has been previously translated several times, with one fully scholarly translation of both the poetry and the Fu (poetic expositions). The present translation not only provides a facing page critical Chinese text, it addresses two problems that have been ignored or not adequately treated in earlier works. First, it traces the history of the current text. The rather serious problems with this text will be, if not soluble, at least visible. Second, translations have been shaped by the anachronistic assumption that Ruan Ji was loyal to the declining Wei dynasty, when...