Su Shih

Su Shih: see Su Tung-p'o.

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Su Shih 

(also known as Su Tung-p’o). Born 1036, in the province of Szechwan; died 1101, in the city of Chang-chou. Chinese writer and political figure.

Su Shih took part in the political struggle that centered on plans for governmental reform. After opposing Wang An-shih, Su Shih spent the years 1079 through 1100 in prison and in exile.

Su Shih strongly influenced all the elevated literary genres of his time. Several thousand of his poems and prose works (mainly essays), remarkable for their expressiveness, have survived. His works include political, philosophical, and nature lyrics, as well as depictions of the people’s sufferings. Su Shih’s prose, which reflects the breadth of his interests, is lively and unaffected.

WORKS

Su Tung-p’o chi, vols. 1–3. Shanghai, 1958.
In Russian translation:
[“Stikhi.”] In Antologiia kitaiskoipoezii, vol. 3. Moscow, 1957.
[“Stikhotv. v proze.”] In Kitaiskaia klassicheskaia proza. Moscow, 1959.
Stikhi, melodii, poemy. Moscow, 1975.

REFERENCES

Lapina, Z. G. Politicheskaia bor’ba v srednevekovom Kitae (40–70 gg. XI v.). Moscow, 1970.
Golubev, I. S. “Obviniteli i zashchitniki poeta Su Shi.” Problemy Dal’nego Vostoka, 1973, no. 1.
Lin Yu-tang. The Gay Genius. New York, 1947.
Ling Ch’in-ju. Su Shih ssu-hsiang t’an-t’ao. Taipei, 1964.

V. F. SOROKIN