Meng Hao-jan

These short musical sketches were inspired by the following poems written by the T'ang dynasty poet Meng Hao-jan (689-740 C.E.). Deeply influenced by Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism, Meng was the first to make poetry from the Ch’an insight that deep understanding lies beyond words. The result was a strikingly distilled language that opened new inner depths, non-verbal insights, and outright enigma. This made Meng Hao-jan China’s first master of the short imagistic landscape poem that came to typify ancient Chinese poetry.

The poems were translated by David Hinton as published in the book 'The Mountain Poems of Meng Hao-jan', published by Archipelago books.

Adrift on a Summer’s Day, I visit the Hermitage of Recluse T‘eng

Ch’i chill-thickened at the water pavilion,

oars all idleness, I stop by to visit. It’s late,

pine and bamboo alight in stream shadow,

lotus and chestnut scenting fragrant pools.

Country kids freshen our wine-loose dance,

mountain birds laugh with our tipsy song,

until delight in quietr mystery deepens into

adoration: dusk-lit mist, the inevitable dark.

Listening to Cheng Yin Play His Ch’in

Another Juan Chi ripening wine’s renown

in bamboo forests full of crystalline wind,

you sit half drunk, let down flowing sleeves

and sweep your dragon-rimmed ch’in clean.

Then it’s a fresh tune for each cup of wine,

dusk’s blaze sinking away unnoticed. Soon,

thoughts deep among rivers and mountains

I hear this mind my former lives all share.

Overnight on Abiding-Integrity River

I guide the boat in, anchor off island mist.

It’s dusk, time a traveler’s loneliness returns.

Heaven settles far and wide into the trees,

and on this clear river, a moon drifts near.

Traveling to Yueh, I Linger Out Farewell with Chang and Shen

This morning I set off down Rule-Water Canal

and tonight stop over on the border of Ch’iao,

full of joy because this west wind has blown

us together here, old friends meeting again.

You’ll stay, perfecting Mei Fu’s recluse way,

and I’ll set out following the hermit Po Luan.

after this farewell, we’ll think of each other

anytime: clouds floating above Wu and Kuei.

Drums/composition: Edward Ware
Bass Clarinet: Andrew Paske
Recording Engineer: Wayne Peet

Recorded in Los Angeles, October 2007