This work introduces the poetry of three of China’s greatest literary figures, and presents a translation that captures the spirit - Buddhist, Taoist, confucian - of each man. Wang Wei, Li Bai and Du Fu represent the Chinese poetic trandition and 1200 years later, their words still remain influential. Vikram Seth is the author of A Suitable Boy , The Golden Gate , From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet .