Biography of Tao Yuanming

Author: Du Jinghua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Tao Yuanming is one of the greatest poets of China's medieval period. He despised the powerful, was indifferent to fame and fortune, cared about the suffering of the common people, and defended human dignity. He once refused to bow his head for five bushels of rice and resigned from his post. He loved labor and life, had an open and unrestrained personality, revered nature, and yearned for a better future. His poems and prose were simple, elegant, and natural, with a subtle beauty hidden in plainness. His style was ingenious yet unrefined, with a lingering charm and a serene and secluded atmosphere. He forged his own path and stood out uniquely, like a gazelle's hooves leaving no trace, imbued with a strong pastoral and rustic flavor. His work had a profound influence on later poetic creation. Later generations praised him as "A single word, naturally fresh and ever new; when luxury fades, true simplicity shines." His life was filled with the poet and artist's longing and pursuit of truth, goodness, beauty, and the essence of life, radiating a unique charm and interest. This book provides a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of Tao Yuanming's ordinary yet great life, his artistic creation, and the formation of his artistic style. It is well-documented, rich in content, profound in thought, and offers many fresh insights, making it a highly valuable and rare biographical literary work.