418Z Fall 2026 Beauty, Wisdom, and Worldviews in Classical Chinese Poetry

Many readers are drawn to the beauty of nature in classical Chinese poetry—moonlight, mountains, seasons, and quiet moments. This course invites participants to move beyond surface appreciation to discover the wisdom and worldviews that shape these poems. We will read selected works by Wang Wei, Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Li Shangyin, Yu Xuanji, Su Shi, and Li Qingzhao from the Tang and Song periods. Together we will explore how simple images express harmony, impermanence, balance, and human life. The course introduces Daoist naturalness and harmony, Buddhist awareness of change, and Confucian concern for humanity and responsibility. Gentle reflective prompts and imagery will help bring each poem to life. This course welcomes anyone interested in poetry, nature, and deeper insight.

Dawn Li, Ph.D., a native Chinese speaker with a Doctorate in Language and Literature, has taught Chinese culture at George Washington University and English at Peking University in Beijing. She is the author of New Dao Fables: Wisdom of the Wild (animal stories) and Song of a Lotus Leaf (poems).