He was one of the first poets to rebel against an ornate, courtly style that had dominated Chinese poetry since shortly after Hsieh Ling-yun. His spareness helped revolutionize Chinese poetry and permanently restored the simplicity of T'ao Chi'en as a dominant style in Chinese poetry. With Meng, Buddhist themes are common. Passing an Old Friend's An old friend fixing chicken and rice asks me into his country home.
Shadowy trees surround the village, peaks run blue to far horizons.
Beyond our meal stretch vegetable fields as we chat, over wine, of mulberry, hemp. Throughout the passing night, I wait. A lonely lute attends his vine-hung path. Translated by Matthew Flannery Evening. I could not find a famous mountain.