Introduction

Chinese and foreign relations have a long history that has been recorded in literature and poetry. Many famous poets from both China and other countries have written about their experiences of cross-cultural communication and exchanges. This article explores some of the most famous verses about Chinese and foreign relations and the stories behind them.

1. The Visit of Marco Polo

In the thirteenth century, Italian explorer Marco Polo traveled to China and spent 20 years exploring the country. He wrote about his visit to Beijing in his book The Travels of Marco Polo, which became a well-known account of China in Europe. One of the most famous lines in his book reads: "I have not told the half of what I saw." The line expressed Marco Polos awe at the vastness and diversity of China.

2. Tang Dynasty Poets and Foreign Envoys

During the Tang Dynasty, China had extensive diplomatic contacts with other countries, especially with Korea, Japan, Central Asia, and India. Many foreign envoys visited the Tang court and were welcomed with poetic receptions organized by the imperial court. Tang poets often composed poems to praise the exotic visitors and express their fascination with foreign lands. One such poem by Du Fu reads:The sounds of pipa and flute resound in the distant sky, The fragrance of wine wafts through the Jade Gate Pass. Guests arrive from the Western Regions, Bringing with them the grace of their culture.This poem praised the cultural exchanges between China and Central Asia, which were facilitated by trade, religion, and diplomacy.

3. Li Bai and the Foreign Beauty

Li Bai was a renowned poet of the Tang Dynasty who was known for his romantic and adventurous spirit. In one of his poems, he wrote about meeting a foreign beauty in the city of Chengdu. The poem reads:Her dress fluttering like flying butterflies, Her face shining like the bright moon. She speaks with a brisk and gentle accent, A foreign fragrance lingering in the air.This poem captured Li Bais infatuation with the exotic beauty of a foreign woman and his fascination with the diversity of human culture.

4. Ezra Pounds "The River-Merchants Wife: A Letter"

Ezra Pound was an American modernist poet who was interested in Chinese culture and literature. His famous poem "The River-Merchants Wife: A Letter" was inspired by a Tang Dynasty poem and tells the story of a young girl in rural China who becomes the wife of a river-merchant. The poem expresses the girls longing for her absent husband and the beauty of the natural world around her. The ending lines of the poem read:When you come to Wuhan, Please ask about me there. If you don’t see a solitary cloud, You’ll know I’ve gone away.These lines suggest the girls resignation to her fate and her sense of loss as she waits for her husbands return.

Conclusion

Poetry has been a powerful mode of expression for cross-cultural communication and understanding between China and foreign countries. From Marco Polos awe of Chinas vastness to Li Bais admiration of foreign beauty, and from Du Fus praise of cultural exchanges to Ezra Pounds imagination of a young Chinese girl, these poems offer us a glimpse into the richness and complexity of Chinese and foreign relations.