Ma Chih-yüan was a ch'ü-poet and playwright, who lived during the 13th century, possibly into the early years of the 14th. He had a reclusive Taoistic self-nickname meaning "Eastern Bamboo-Fence", and was from Ta-tu, although that may not have been his precise or true domicile of origin. After the Mongol completion of their conquest of China in the 1270s, he held a post in the administration of a province in the region of present-day Kiangsu, Anhwei, Kiangsi and Fukien provinces. It may have been a post concerned with taxation and of fairly minor standing, reminding of Robert Burns the exciseman! Another, less reliable source says that it was that of a mandarin of fifth or sixth grade, in charge of such matters as schools, education, civil service examinations, records, documents and sacrificial ceremonies, or alternatively one in charge of medical affairs, the former post being established in AD 1281, and the latter in AD 1288.
The free poems of the Chinese playwright and poet Ma Chih-yuan (13th century AD) include some of the very best of his times, and indeed some unmatched elsewhere. This is the first complete translation of his poems, and for many of them the first Western language translation. He has a wide range of topics: Love, dropping out from society, lending a favourite horse, a unique description of fast calligraphy in action, the fragility of dynasties, political failures and successes, scenic vignettes, and others. The poems are written in the most spontaneous-feeling multi-level style of Chinese verse, and are resonant with many allusions to other literature, and to history and myths, this book providing extensive background elucidations for the extra depth and intricacy which the use of allusion involves. The poems further give us a vivid glimpse of the attitudes and philosophy of a poet in China under Mongol rule and at the time of Marco Polo's descriptions.
These renderings may at least hint at the qualities that made Ma Chih-yüan's poetry so enjoyable for his contemporaries and Chinese posterity.
About the Author: One of the foremost experts on the Chinese language, culture and history, a highly respected and renowned lecturer in Mandarin and father of five, William (Bill) Dolby spent his life surpassing academic excellence. Throughout his active career and until the last, Bill freely shared his deep love of Chinese drama and Classical Chinese and in so doing created a truly inspirational and sound foundation in those who took the time to listen. As a true master the respect that he gained from his peers and from students, friends and colleagues is indisputably a priceless rarity.
Over his lifetime he had various works published, all of which remain the foremost works in the area. These include 'A History of Chinese Drama' published by Elek Books in 1976 (ISBN 0 236 30903) and Lao She, Mr Ma and Son, published by Penguin in 2013 (ISBN NO: 978-0-14-320811-2) however, his greatest works are contained within his self-titled 'The Chinese Culture Series' 33 individual works; poetry, translation, insight and drama which only today are being made available for others to share.
