Theory of the Macrostructure of Tang and Song Poetry

Author: President Xu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: The transition between the three major stages of Tang and Song poetry is clearly not a single-replacement relationship but rather presents a complex interwoven state. Within the overall transformation and evolution of the spirit of the times, literary trends are exceptionally active and span the entire duration of the Tang and Song dynasties. Broadly speaking, there are four main aspects: First, the trend of valuing novelty, rooted in the high promotion of subjective spirit, has created countless innovative aesthetic realms in the history of Tang and Song poetry; Second, the trend of striving to closely reflect real life has left behind a wealth of vivid historical works and even epic-like masterpieces in the history of Tang and Song poetry; Third, the phenomenon of "using prose as poetry" in pursuit of poetic form innovation has expanded the function and scope of traditional poetry; Fourth, the "late Tang charm" born of literati in turbulent times seeking a spiritual home reflects the typical psychological journey of Chinese intellectuals. These four major trends permeate both the Tang and Song dynasties, with some even spanning the entire period. It can be said that it is precisely these poetic trends that integrate the evolving history of poetry into a unified whole, thereby constituting the macrostructure of Tang and Song poetry within the dialectical unity of dynamic transformation and static arrangement, diachronic trends and synchronic literary forms, and ultimately revealing a typical overall process of literary history.