Ai Qing

About the Author

Ai Qing, one of China's most revered modern poets, was born in 1910 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, and emerged as a pivotal voice in 20th-century Chinese literature. Exiled to Xinjiang for his leftist sympathies during the 1930s, he drew profound inspiration from the landscapes and struggles of ordinary people, infusing his work with themes of nature, patriotism, and human resilience. Despite enduring political persecution, including imprisonment during the Cultural Revolution, Ai Qing's poetry remained a beacon of hope and humanism. His verses, often simple yet evocative, captured the soul of China's rural heartland and the dignity of its laborers. Throughout his career, he influenced generations of writers, and his legacy endures as a testament to the power of art in turbulent times. Selected Poems showcases his enduring contributions to world literature.