Draft on Eastern Jin Poetry

Author: Chen Daogui
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-05-01
Features: In 317 AD, Sima Rui was enfeoffed as King of Jiankang (now Nanjing, Jiangsu), becoming the de facto successor to the Jin dynasty and establishing the Eastern Jin dynasty. However, at that time, the Jin Mindi Emperor was still alive, so he did not formally proclaim himself emperor. The following March, the Mindi Emperor passed away, and Sima Rui ascended the throne, known in history as Emperor Yuan of Jin. From then until the second year of Yuexi (420 AD), when Emperor Gong abdicated in favor of Liu Yu and the Song dynasty was established, the Eastern Jin dynasty lasted for eleven emperors and over a century. The "Eastern Jin poetry" discussed in this book slightly deviates from the historical concept of the Eastern Jin dynasty mentioned above. It actually takes Liu Kan and Guo Pu as its peak figures, with Xie Lingyun as the concluding figure. Although Guo Pu lived through both the Western and Eastern Jin dynasties, his main activities and poetic creations took place after crossing the Yangtze River. Early scholars like Tan Daoluan and Liu Xie clearly classified him as a writer of the Jiangdong region. Liu Kan was included for two reasons: first, all his extant poems were written during the transition period between the Western and Eastern Jin dynasties, reflecting the social reality before and after the establishment of the Eastern Jin dynasty; second, scholars like Liu Xie and Zhong Ling considered him alongside Guo Pu as a pioneer of Jiangdong poetry, and many later critics followed this view. As for Xie Lingyun, who achieved most of his creative success after the establishment of the Liu Song dynasty, he was included because of his unique position in the evolution of Xuan (metaphysical) and landscape poetry during the Jin-Song transition. Mr. Wang Yao, when discussing the evolution of Eastern Jin poetry, took Xie Lingyun as one of the main subjects.① The evolution of the dominant trends in poetry during this period can be roughly glimpsed from the brief remarks of Southern Dynasties scholars like Tan Daoluan, Liu Xie, and Zhong Ling. However, due to their often incomplete discussions and the limited availability of relevant works—especially the scarce survival of Xuan poetry—understanding the full picture remains challenging. This situation has led to frequent disputes and differing interpretations when studying related issues. Current research reveals two major characteristics: First, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the development and evolution of the dominant poetic trends during this period. Works like Mr. Wang Yao's "Xuan·Landscape·Pastoral—On Eastern Jin Poetry," which combine in-depth analysis of specific issues with an examination of poetic evolution, are relatively rare. Literary and poetic histories often give brief coverage to this period, focusing primarily on figures like Guo Pu and Tao Yuanming while neglecting the emergence, development, and evolution of Eastern Jin Xuan poetry, giving the impression of a superficial treatment of the beginning and end with insufficient attention to the middle. Second, compared to comprehensive studies, research on specific authors or topics is relatively more abundant, primarily in the form of further exploration of long-standing issues and the discovery of new topics. For example, there have been numerous publications on the themes of Guo Pu's "Fairyland Poems," the origins and development of Xuan poetry, the life and poetry of Tao Yuanming, and the origins of landscape poetry. This research has shown broader perspectives and diversified methods, such as exploring Tao Yuanming's life ideals and poetic style in relation to Xuan thought or examining Xuan and landscape poetry from the perspective of Buddhist influence. However, such studies are still in their early stages, with various viewpoints often differing or even conflicting, making further research urgent. Given these reasons, this book adopts a combination of historical and theoretical approaches. It aims to grasp the developmental trajectory of poetry during this period, highlight its evolutionary path, and widely connect it to the social realities of the time to reveal the underlying causes of its transformation. At the same time, it focuses on specific issues, offering insights into controversial and complex phenomena. To achieve these goals, the book adopts a structure that emphasizes both specific points and overall continuity. It organizes chapters with thematic focus in sequence according to the dominant trends of poetry during this period, ensuring clarity while avoiding superficiality. Correspondingly, in the process of discussion, it does not rigidly adhere to a uniform writing style but selects topics based on actual circumstances, determining the approach and depth of analysis according to the core issues at hand, guided by the principle of focusing on what matters most.