At midnight, talking about Han Yu and Liu Yuxi

Author: Jin Xingyao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This series of books presents poems in the form of comic illustrations, focusing on the life journey of the poets, the connotations of their works, and their artistic expressions. It emphasizes artistic quality, storytelling, and entertainment. Each book includes 40 to 50 short essays, each discussing one poem or a specific event. Reading each piece individually allows one to appreciate the essence of the works, while reading them together provides insights into the poet's life and character. The book covers poetical anecdotes and critiques of poems, offering both depth and accessibility, catering to both the scholarly and the general audience. It is an excellent cultural essay as well as an academic one, making it highly suitable for readers with a moderate level of education.
Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan were the two towering figures of the mid-Tang literary scene. Together, they spearheaded the Classical Prose Movement, advocating for the elimination of ornate and artificial styles from the Six Dynasties period and reviving the prose of the past eight generations. In poetry, Han Yu's works are known for their eccentricity, dramatic shifts, and were later considered obscure. Yet, they also broke new ground, revealing their strength and resilience. Liu Zongyuan's poems are elegant, profound, and have elevated the landscape poetry tradition, becoming a defining style of the era, with universal acclaim.
This book takes poetry as its main focus, weaving in the life stories, rises and falls of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan. Through concise and powerful prose, it meticulously details their lives, striving to recreate the poets' personalities.