Han Shan: Cold Mountain Poems

What does it mean to live simply, to dwell in solitude among mountains and clouds, to find freedom in letting go of the world's demands? Han Shan's Cold Mountain Poems are among the most beloved works of Chinese Buddhist poetry, a collection of verses written over twelve centuries ago by a hermit-monk who carved his poems on rock walls in the mountains of southeastern China. Often ranked among the most inspiring works of world literature, these poems speak with humor, clarity, and profound simplicity about solitude, nature, the spiritual path, and the joy of living free from attachment. Beloved by the Beat Generation and treasured across traditions, Han Shan's voice remains as fresh and vital today as when he first wrote these lines on stone.

At first glance, Han Shan's poems might seem like simple nature verses—descriptions of mist, mountains, streams, and wild birds. But beneath their surface simplicity lies profound Zen wisdom. Han Shan writes as a wanderer who has left behind the world of ambition, status, and striving to live in harmony with nature and the Tao. His poems are filled with laughter at human folly, wonder at the beauty of the natural world, and deep peace born of solitude and spiritual practice. He invites us to see through the illusions that bind us—the pursuit of wealth, fame, and comfort—and to discover the freedom that comes from living simply, present to each moment, content with what is.

For readers seeking contemplative wisdom, Cold Mountain Poems offers a profound guide to simplicity, solitude, and the spiritual life. Han Shan doesn't preach or philosophize; he shows us what it looks like to live in harmony with the Tao, to find joy in the ordinary, to be free. This is a book for anyone who longs for simplicity in a complicated world, who seeks peace in nature and solitude, who wants to live with less attachment and more presence. It's a reminder that the deepest wisdom is found not in accumulation but in letting go, and that true freedom comes from living in harmony with the way things are.

What You'll Discover

• Han Shan's beloved poems—among the earliest Zen-style Buddhist poetry
• Verses on solitude, nature, simplicity, and the spiritual path
• Humor, clarity, and profound wisdom from a Tang Dynasty hermit-monk
• Vivid descriptions of mountain life and the beauty of the natural world
• Exploration of freedom, non-attachment, and living in harmony with the Tao
• Everyman's Library Pocket Poets hardcover edition with beautiful production

Han Shan (Cold Mountain) is the name of a legendary Chinese poet-hermit who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), though the exact dates and historical details of his life remain uncertain. According to tradition, Han Shan (whose name means "Cold Mountain") was a Buddhist monk who withdrew from society to live in the Tiantai Mountains of southeastern China, where he wrote poems on rocks, trees, and monastery walls. His poems—simple, humorous, and deeply wise—reflect the influence of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, Taoism, and the Chinese poetic tradition. Rediscovered and translated in the 20th century, Han Shan's work became beloved by the Beat poets and has inspired readers worldwide with its vision of simplicity, freedom, and harmony with nature.

Perfect for: Readers seeking contemplative poetry and Buddhist wisdom, those drawn to simplicity and solitude, students of Chinese poetry and Zen Buddhism, anyone interested in nature poetry and mountain hermit traditions, readers who love the Beat Generation and Gary Snyder's translations, admirers of Taoist and Chan Buddhist literature, seekers exploring non-attachment and spiritual freedom, students of Tang Dynasty poetry, those interested in the intersection of poetry and contemplative practice.

Everyman's Library Pocket Poets hardcover edition. Han Shan's timeless verses—offering humor, simplicity, and profound Zen wisdom from the mountains of ancient China.