Quote by Han Shan: “I dwell on Cold Mountain, secluded from the world, a recluse in the mist.”

This quote defines the poet's chosen lifestyle, emphasizing a deliberate detachment from societal norms and expectations. It paints a picture of serene solitude and self-imposed isolation, suggesting that true peace can be found away from worldly concerns.

Han Shan, or 'Cold Mountain,' is a legendary figure whose poems describe his life as a hermit in the Tiantai Mountains. His exact dates are unknown, but he is associated with the Tang Dynasty, reflecting a tradition of Daoist and Buddhist hermitage.

Tang dynasty Chinese hermit poet of the eighth or ninth century, known by the name of the cold mountain in Zhejiang province where he reportedly lived in a cave. His poems, written on rocks and trees according to legend, were collected by a government official and have been enormously influential in Chan Buddhism and Zen art. Gary Snyder's translations made Han Shan's work widely known in twentieth-century America.