Hanshan (poet) facts for kids
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
Basic terms |
|
|
People |
|
|
Schools |
|
|
Practices |
|
|
study Dharma |
|
Hanshan (Chinese: 寒山; pinyin: Hánshān; literally "Cold Mountain") was a mysterious poet from ancient China. He lived a very long time ago, around the 9th century, during the Tang Dynasty. His name, Hanshan, means "Cold Mountain." He is famous for his amazing poems, which are part of the Taoist and Chan (Zen) traditions.
Nobody knows for sure who Hanshan really was. We don't know exactly when he was born or when he died. Some people even wonder if he was a real person at all! In Chinese Buddhist stories, Hanshan and his good friend Shide are seen as special helpers. They are believed to be like two important figures called bodhisattvas, named Mañjuśrī and Samantabhadra.
In many old Japanese and Chinese paintings, Hanshan is often shown with Shide. Sometimes he is also pictured with Fenggan, another monk who has many legendary stories about him.
His Mysterious Life
Hanshan was a recluse. This means he lived alone and far away from other people. He made his home in a remote, quiet part of the mountains. He wrote his poems on rocks and trees in the mountains where he lived. Because he lived so far away, not much is known about his life or his work.
His Amazing Poems
People believe Hanshan wrote about 600 poems before he died. Out of these, 313 poems have been found and saved. These poems give us a peek into his thoughts and feelings.
Hanshan had a friend named Shide. Shide is also said to have written poems. About 57 poems are thought to be by Shide. However, seven of these poems seem to have been written by Hanshan himself. This means Hanshan might have written a total of 320 poems that we know of today. His poems are still read and loved by many people around the world.
Images for kids
-
Yan Hui, Han Shan 寒山. Color on silk. Tokyo National Museum
See also
In Spanish: Hanshan para niños
