The Tang and Song Dynasties of China are often referred to as the high points of culture in the history of Chinese civilization. The hundred poems featured in this book have been carefully selected by the author Qiu Xiaolong and represent the most famous and poignant of these poems. The Tang Dynasty poets were known for their distinctive personal styles and their rich and textured poems, while the Song Dynasty poets were known for their lyricism and the depiction of town life.