Ideograms in China

A decptively simple, lyrical and shifting riff on Chinese characters and caligraphy by a master poet, one whose work sometimes slipped into the pure sense of the figured line, gesture, action. Ezra Pound, as he lapsed into silence at the end of his life, began a translation of this work, as a bookend so to speak of his own response (mediated by Fenollosa) to the Chinese character. Here we have Michaux translated by American poet Gustaf Sobin, who lived many years in Southern France before passing away in 2005. The text was originally an introduction to Leon Chang's La Calligraphie Chinoise (will have to search this out and test my French) but it stands on its own as a powerful poem, and that is how it needs to be read, as a poem.The afterward by Richard Sieburth 'Signs in Action' helped me better see the connections between the act of wiriting (especially caligraphy), Michaux and his lines/signs, Pound and Fenollosa. It is a thought provoking read in its own right.

If you want to get the "feel" of the Chinese Ideogram, this is a good introduction and by all means this is book is well worth your time and $. If you are a hard core poet and writer however I would recomend Ernest Fenollosa's "The chinese written character as a medium for poetry" co-written with Ezra Pound

A small magical book...beautiful writing

Excellent treatise on Chinese characters and its evolution. Add henri's poetry , it's a grand feast for eyes and mind.

Molto bello per approfondire la conoscenza di Henri Michaux, in particolare la sua (di Michaux) acquisizione dell'ideogramma all'interno della pittura (arte a cui si è dedicato l'autore).