Shi Pin Ji Jie

Author: Si Kongyuan Guo Shaoyu Yuan Mei Guo Shaoyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1963-10-01
Features: These two collections of poetry criticism, though distinguished in purpose, differ in nature and content. One can be understood intuitively but is not easily explained, while the other is straightforward and clear, requiring little interpretation. Therefore, I have adopted different approaches to annotate them. For one, I have selected ancient interpretations that resonate closely, making them clearer than verbose explanations. For the other, I have focused on the essence of Yuan Mei's annotations, particularly his "Yuan Yuan's Poetry Talks," to highlight the key insights.
Why does Si Kongtu emphasize the "sublime realm" in his "Poetry Criticisms"? In fact, we can trace some origins of this concept in the poetry criticism of Tang Dynasty poets. The ancients often compared Li Bai and Du Fu, praising Du Fu's poetry for its practicality, likening him to the "sage of poetry," while Li Bai's poetry was seen as unrestrained, likening him to the "immortal of poetry." Wang Yuyang later paired Li Bai with Wang Wei, noting that Li Bai's poetry abounded in profound beauty beyond mere rhyme, existing in a state of "neither immediate nor detached," thus elevating him to the status of the "buddha of poetry."
Why does Si Kongtu emphasize the "sublime realm" in his "Poetry Criticisms"? In fact, we can trace some origins of this concept in the poetry criticism of Tang Dynasty poets. The ancients often compared Li Bai and Du Fu, praising Du Fu's poetry for its practicality, likening him to the "sage of poetry," while Li Bai's poetry was seen as unrestrained, likening him to the "immortal of poetry." Wang Yuyang later paired Li Bai with Wang Wei, noting that Li Bai's poetry abounded in profound beauty beyond mere rhyme, existing in a state of "neither immediate nor detached," thus elevating him to the status of the "buddha of poetry."