In a message dated 11/21/2002 1:48:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


>   I've just joined the list as I've just begun my studies of Pound's
> most famous short poems, esp. 'Ts'ai chi'h'. Could maybe anybody out
> there give me some hints to this title, what is its exact meaning, or
> any reference study that I might check ? ...
>

Part of the key and problem of the Poundian quotes is their age.  Need to
check the old Wade-Giles system of transliterating Chinese for clues and see
what texts he had available.  Today, most of the text is in flux, either
halfway between W-G and modern or fully Pinyin.  So even "known" things like
the Ghenghis/Chingis, Tao/Dao or Mao Tse-tung/Mao Zedong are different now in
their spellings.  That might help the search, to look for 1900-esque
transliterations and translations for the clues to his many allusions.

Cheers,

Thomas