Words from Cold Mountain

Han-shan (c.800), translated by Kline, A. S. (contact-email)

Han-shan, known as the Master of Cold Mountain, and his companion Shi-te lived during the late eighth to early ninth centuries AD. They resided in the T’ien-t’ai mountain range of Chekiang (now Zhejiang) Province, situated to the south of Hangzhou Bay. These convivial companions withdrew into the wilderness to free themselves from society's restrictive constraints - the freedom they embodied reflecting their inner serenity.

Han-shan’s verse, though introspective and imbued with the essence of Zen, was nevertheless merely a vessel. His opinion was that the true embodiment of Zen resided within the conscious self, not within the confines of any written language.

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Han-shan, also known as the Master of Cold Mountain, was a literary figure attributed as the author of a collection of poetry from the T’ang dynasty of China. These poems are significant within the Chan (Zen) Buddhist and Taoist traditions. It is unclear, however, whether they were indeed the work of a single poet.

The collection comprises approximately 320 poems, reflecting upon Han-shan's life as a social recluse. According to legend, he inscribed his poems on natural objects within the mountainous landscape in which he lived. The poems are direct, often blending Taoist and Buddhist themes such as life’s transient nature and the pursuit of transcendence.

The tale of Han-shan and his companion Shi-te, as recounted by Lüqiu Yin, a governor of T’ang dynasty, describes an intriguing encounter. Moved by their ascetic lifestyle and the depth of their poetry, Lüqiu Yin offered to ease their hardships. However, Han-shan and Shi-te, embodying the true essence of Zen, refused his help. Instead, they chose to maintain their life of simplicity and seclusion. After this encounter, Han-shan and Shi-te disappeared without trace into a cave - symbolising their detachment from worldly concerns.

The exact time-frame of Han-shan’s life is debated. Some suggest his poems span the entire Tang dynasty, while others link him to specific figures including the Chan monk Caoshan Benji (840–901). Interpretations of Han-shan’s poems, however, suggest he may have lived during an earlier poetic period.

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Kline, A. S.

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