A review by abarrera
The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain by Hanshan

5.0

This is such a unique book. First of all, don't expect rhythmic poetry. Han Shan's poems are more like koans than poems themselves. The reading is fascinating because it gives you great insight into the Taoism and Buddhism culture of China's Tang Dynasty. It also provides a sense of what hermits were all about at the time. This comes through thanks to Red Pine's incredible translation, which adds in-depth commentary and massive references.

If you're into Taoism, early Buddhism and Zen, this is definitely a great book to read.