Hanshan

Hanshan (寒山), or Hán shān, was a Chinese poet from the Tang dynasty born in 618 AD. His name translates to “Cold Mountain,” and he is often referred to as such in translation. Hanshan, along with his contemporaries Shídé and Fēnggān, formed the “Tiantai Trio,” and lived in seclusion at Guoqing Temple on Tian Tai Mountain (天台山), in modern-day Zhèjiāng province.

Little is known about Hanshan’s birth or death, but his poetry is remembered as having philosophical depth. His work followed a three-, five-, or seven-character verse, no shorter than four lines and no longer than thirty-four lines. He used repeated metaphors, humor, and colloquialisms. His poems are known for juxtaposing Buddhist ideas about karma and reincarnation alongside Daoist optimism. Around three hundred poems have been attributed to Hanshan who died in 907 AD.