Research on the Poetry of Pi Lu

Author: Wang Xijiu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The book Studies on the Poetry of Pi and Lu is one of the works in the Series of Tang Poetry Studies and represents the result of Professor Wang's years of dedicated research. Pi Rixiu and Lu Gengmeng were renowned poets of late Tang, known for their poetry. They had a deep friendship and frequently exchanged verses, exerting a significant influence on later poets. Since late Tang, scholars and poets have produced a vast body of criticism on Pi and Lu's poetry. However, extracting relevant materials from the vast ancient literature has been a challenging task, and surpassing previous research while forging new insights has been equally difficult. Studies on the Poetry of Pi and Lu is precisely such a work that delves deep into the past and uncovers hidden truths. Building on a comprehensive collection of materials and fully utilizing academic research, it offers a highly creative exploration of Pi and Lu's poetry. Specifically, the book has the following characteristics:
1. Systematic and Comprehensive Most ancient critiques of Pi and Lu's poetry are scattered across various reading notes and poetic discussions, with few dedicated monographs. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, academic research on Pi and Lu's poetry has become increasingly in-depth, yielding numerous achievements. For example, Xiao Difei and Miao Yue have made significant contributions to the study of Pi Rixiu's poetry, while Li Feng and Chen Hanying have explored Lu Gengmeng's poetry in their own ways. Unfortunately, most of these research outcomes are individual papers, often focusing only on one aspect of Pi and Lu's poetry. Professor Wang's Studies on the Poetry of Pi and Lu can be considered a comprehensive and systematic monograph dedicated to the study of Pi and Lu's poetry. The book is divided into five chapters, each with three to five sub-sections. The first chapter provides a general discussion on the literary significance and influence of the term "Pi and Lu." The second chapter focuses specifically on their collaborative poems. Chapters three and four separately analyze the poetry of Pi and Lu. The final chapter discusses their poetic theories. The book addresses all the key issues in the study of Pi and Lu's poetry, offering detailed and well-structured explanations. It also explores areas that previous scholars have not yet touched upon, providing preliminary yet valuable insights. The book is well-organized and clearly structured.
2. Tracing the Origins The author does not merely study Pi and Lu's poetry within the historical context of late Tang but examines its origins within the broader literary history. This guiding principle of the author's research is also a key feature of his book Studies on the Poetry of Pi and Lu. When discussing the achievements of Pi and Lu's poetry, the author places great emphasis on their role as bridges between the past and the future in the history of poetry. He argues that Pi and Lu's poetry connects the lingering echoes of Tang-era sounds and paves the way for the early styles of the Song dynasty, marking the transition between Tang and Song poetic traditions. This is elaborated upon in detail. In the chapter dedicated to their collaborative poems, the author devotes a specific section to discussing the transmission between Pi and Lu's collaborations and the poetic circles of the mid-Tang Zhejiang East and Zhejiang West regions, as well as the Han-Meng and Yuan-Bai schools, showcasing their continuation of the legacy of previous masters. He also explores the influence of Pi and Lu's collaborative poems on later poetic styles, demonstrating their nourishing effect on future generations. For example, in his study of Pi and Lu's miscellaneous-style poems, the author examines the origins of such poems and their evolution across different dynasties, confirming that Pi and Lu played a role in consolidating, synthesizing, and innovating in the development of miscellaneous-style poetry. Ultimately, he concludes that "Pi and Lu's miscellaneous-style poems serve as a summation of the past, a synthesis of achievements, an opening for the future, and an influence on later generations in the history of literature." This research method not only yields convincing conclusions but also provides readers with a complete and clear picture of the development and transformation of Pi and Lu's poetry.
3. Fresh Insights Studies on the Poetry of Pi and Lu fully utilizes previous research while avoiding rigid adherence to established views, forging its own path. The book offers numerous fresh insights scattered throughout its chapters. The author dares to question the traditional interpretations of predecessors. For instance, regarding the evaluation of Pi and Lu's collaborative poems, many scholars have held critical views. Xu Xueyi, a Qing Dynasty scholar, even criticized their collaborative poems as "exaggerating novelty and striving for uniqueness, severely damaging the poetic form. If these two were to be reborn, I would cast them to the tigers" (Dian Ti Po Yi). The History of Chinese Literature compiled by the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Sciences also stated: "These collaborative poems are merely a play with techniques and allusions, lacking genuine emotions and profound thoughts." The author does not fall into the traps of previous critiques but focuses on the texts themselves, analyzing specific works to argue that Pi and Lu's collaborative poems not only reflect the hermitic tastes of the poets at the time but also represent comprehensive explorations in poetic form. Wang's work discusses the characteristics of "poetry as prose" and the poetic styles of "pursuing novelty" and "simplicity and directness" to demonstrate that Pi and Lu's collaborative poems directly and deeply influenced Song poetry, serving as the precursor to the "Song style." This provides a fresh and accurate evaluation of their collaborative poems.
4. Extensive Research Innovation is the lifeblood of academic research, but innovative academic views must be grounded in thorough and reliable data collection and careful verification. Therefore, behind every academic monograph with innovative spirit often lies the author's years of diligent effort in gathering materials. As a work that combines history and theory, Studies on the Poetry of Pi and Lu also sets a good example in the collection and use of historical materials. In the process of argumentation, the author extensively cites and utilizes previous critical materials. The book, with over 300 pages, has one to several footnotes on almost every page, each meticulously labeled with the title, author, page number, and edition of the cited source, reflecting the author's conscious and rigorous academic awareness.
In summary, Studies on the Poetry of Pi and Lu is the most systematic and comprehensive work available on the study of Pi and Lu's poetry. It proposes many insightful viewpoints, such as the argument that Pi and Lu's poetry connects the echoes of Tang-era sounds and paves the way for the early styles of the Song dynasty, marking the transition between Tang and Song poetic traditions. These contributions undoubtedly deserve full attention from the academic community.