Tea and Wine:  A New Look at the Song Dynasty Poetry of
​Li Qingzhao (李清照)
Melody Ren
13 May, 2023      ​
​9:30 am - 11:00 am, PT
《如梦令•常记溪亭日暮》
常记溪亭日暮，
沉醉不知归路。
兴尽晚回舟，
误入藕花深处。
争渡，争渡，惊起一滩鸥鹭。
"A Dream Song" - translated by Wang Jiansheng 

It was a day at Brookside pavilion
That I often fondly remember,
When, flushed with wine
We could hardly tear ourselves away
From the beautiful view of sunset.
Returning late by boat
​When we'd enjoyed our fill,
We got lost and strayed
To where the clustered lotuses
Were at their thickest.
Pushing and thrashing,
Pushing and thrashing as best we could,
We scared into flight
​A shoreful of dozing egrets and gulls.
Considered one of the greatest poets in Chinese history for her significant contribution to Chinese literature, Li Qingzhao 李清照 (1084 – ca. 1155), also known as Yian Jushi 易安居士  was a prominent female poet in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). ​ In the male-dominated world of Chinese literature, Li Qingzhao's poetry provided a unique perspective on the life of a female scholar in her time.   Her poems about tea and wine, which held great cultural value in the Song Dynasty, offer a glimpse into the emotional depth and complexity associated with the consumption of these beverages.  Li Qingzhao's writing transcends time and place, capturing the essence of the human experience through the refinement and aestheticism of tea, and the conviviality and social bonds fostered by wine.  First Saturday PDX invites you to join us as Melody Ren explores Li Qingzhao's life and her work, with a focus on her poetry referencing tea and wine and its cultural significance in the context of her time and beyond.
About the speaker:
Before coming to the U.S. in 2019, Melody  Ren was a senior wine educator and consultant in Shanghai, China, with a WSET Diploma from the U.K. and an MBA from France. She holds an MA degree in Applied Linguistics from Portland State University, where she is currently collaborating on a project to combine wine education with language learning and socialization.  Melody's passion for tea extends beyond her professional expertise - she is a tea practitioner who believes that wine and tea share many similarities. She has a deep dedication to promoting and sharing Chinese culture with the world, and a belief in bridging cultural gaps and fostering greater understanding through education and appreciation.
Suggested Resources:

Further Reading:

  • ​Chang, Kang-i Sun; Saussy, Haun; Kwong, Charles Yim-tze, Women Writers of Traditional China: An Anthology of Poetry and Criticism. (Stanford University Press. 1999 ISBN 978-0-8047-3231-4.)
  • Li Ch’ing-chao (1980), Li Ch'ing-chao: Complete Poems, translated by Rexroth, Kenneth; Chung, Ling, (New Directions, ISBN 0811207455.)
  • Wang Jiansheng (translator), The Complete Ci-poems of Li Qingzhao: A New English Translation (Sino-Platonic Papers,Number 13 October, 1989,  Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations University of Pennsylvania )
  • Egan, Ronald [translator], Shields, Anna M. [editor] The Works of Li Qingzhao (De Gruyter Mouton.,  January 2019. ISBN 978-1-5015-0451-8)
  • Egan, Ronald. The Burden of Female Talent: The Poet Li Qingzhao and Her History in China. (Harvard University Asia Center Publications. 2013) Available through Amazon 
​​Informational Websites:
  • Beauty of the Rhymes and Vibes in the Song Dynasty - A poetry platform where English readers and learners can enjoy Chinese poems written by the best poets of the Song dynasty ( 960 - 1276). https://www.rhymesandvibes.com/

Videos on YouTube about Li QingZhao:

​Join us after the webinar from 11 - 11:30am in our First Saturday PDX Tea House with the speaker to further the discussion and online social time.  Bring a cup of tea! 
​(Separate  access link for this will be provided in your single registration for this event.)
Our program series is supported by Portland State University's Institute for Asian Studies, Northwest China Council, Portland Chinatown Museum, and Lan Su Chinese Garden.  All our programs are free and open to the public.    ​​