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darren_cormier's review against another edition
3.0
I encountered the story of Han Shan while reading Robert Moor's On Trails and wanted to learn more. This is a very quick introduction to his work and his life, if he in fact existed. This point is brought up on the book's description on its back cover. Han Shan and Shih Te may not have existed, but their works, written on rocks, cave walls, pieces of wood, did.
This can serve as a launching pad for those interested in learning more about these T'ang Dynasty era poets who eschewed traditional means of then "modern" life, and chose a life of aestheticism and living off the land. Their poems and life embody the zen and natural spirit that Beauty and life is what we decide it is, and a meaningful life can be made sleeping in a forest and trying to befriend a snail, or at least make it not afraid of us.
This can serve as a launching pad for those interested in learning more about these T'ang Dynasty era poets who eschewed traditional means of then "modern" life, and chose a life of aestheticism and living off the land. Their poems and life embody the zen and natural spirit that Beauty and life is what we decide it is, and a meaningful life can be made sleeping in a forest and trying to befriend a snail, or at least make it not afraid of us.
annabolson's review
3.0
Sweet, charming and quirky, but not a great book for people who like conflict. It's more of a character study.
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