Plain Language, Great Feeling
The club explores the mid-Tang Dynasty through the eyes of Bai Juyi. Over ten lessons, they dismantle the elitism of classical poetry, exploring his famous determination to write so that an illiterate old woman could understand him. They read his legendary exam poem 'Farewell on the Ancient Grassland', then plunge into the dark political reality of the 'Palace Market' extortion system. Through a harrowing reading of 'The Old Charcoal Seller', they witness how Bai Juyi weaponized his immense talent to document the suffering of the poor, ultimately paying the price with his own political career.
Bai Juyi's revolutionary accessible aesthetic, his profound empathy for the working class, and his dangerous use of poetry as a tool for political journalism.
Story Chapters & Progression
Follow the narrative path. Unlock chapters sequentially through completion.