Transcript Slide 1

“On an Autumn Evening in the
Mountains”
By
Wang Wei
(706?-761)
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM
Nature Imagery
• Mountains
• Rain
• Trees
• Water
• Bamboo grove
• Lotus patch
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM
• Solitude
– Narrator functions as an outside observer in
this poem
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM
• Moonbeams
– Common symbol in Buddhism
• Moon represents a mirror
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM
• Simplicity
– Relatively simple poem with great depth
regarding meaning
• paradox
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
MOST SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE
OF BUDDHISM
• “Although Spring is long gone
Why cannot I linger over this pleasant
view?” (8)
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
MOST SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE
OF BUDDHISM
• “Spring”
• Title tells us setting is Autumn
• The word “Spring” suggests a “spring-like”
day in Autumn
• In other words, unexpected weather
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
MOST SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE
OF BUDDHISM
• “Linger”
• Synonymous with desire
• He should not linger over this scene
because he will desire it not to change,
even though we know tomorrow will most
likely be an autumn-like day
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."
MOST SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE
OF BUDDHISM
• Irony/Paradox
• Buddhism teaches us to observe nature
• The speaker struggles with his observation
of nature evolving into a desire
Geschke/English IV
"On an Autumn Evening..."