Narodni pesnik kot kulturni most: France Prešeren and the Question of Comparative Poetics with the East

France Prešeren (1800–1849) is Slovenia’s greatest poet, the author of its national anthem Zdravljica, and a central figure in Slovenian national identity. His poetry combines formal perfection with deep emotion, romantic sensibility with national consciousness. Despite his exceptional significance for Slovenian culture, Prešeren remains almost unknown outside Slovenia, particularly in East Asia. This study offers the first systematic introduction of Prešeren to an Eastern audience, with two aims: first, to present Prešeren’s life and work in the context of Slovenian history and culture; second, to establish a comparative dialogue between Prešeren’s poetry and Eastern poetic traditions, especially Chinese classical poetry, Japanese haiku, and Vietnamese epic. The study examines four key themes in Prešeren’s poetry: love, nature, national identity, and melancholy. For each theme, it suggests affinities with works by Du Fu (712–770), Wang Wei (701–761), Li Shangyin (813–858), Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694), and Nguyễn Du (1765–1820). This is not an exercise in finding superficial similarities, but an invitation to dialogue between two poetic traditions that developed independently. The study is conceived as an introduction and an invitation. Its purpose is not to provide definitive answers, but to open doors for further research, translation, and cultural exchange. Prešeren deserves to be known by readers on the other side of the world, for his poetry speaks to universal human experiences—love, loss, longing, freedom—that transcend cultural boundaries. Email: xia.bo.poetry@outlook.com