Chronicle of Tao Yuanming

Author: Xu Yimin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: As a historical figure, Tao Yuanming was an eyewitness to the chaotic events during the transition from the Jin Dynasty to the Southern Dynasties. Although he never expressed passionate indignation, he was not entirely oblivious or indifferent to the affairs of the world. As Mr. Lu Xun pointed out, the essay "On Drinking" in Tao's collected works reflects the politics of the time. Additionally, according to research, the poem "To Yang Changshu" was written after he heard the news of Liu Yu's recapture of Chang'an and Luoyang. The poem states, "Sages and worthies left their traces behind, everything centered in the middle. Could he forget his aspirations? The passageways and rivers are beyond reach. The nine realms have just been unified, and he will set sail to govern." This shows his concern for the unification of the nation. Moreover, during the period of regime change, Tao Yuanming adopted the attitude of "dropping his robe and returning to the countryside," which had a profound influence on later scholars and literati. From a historical perspective, Tao Yuanming himself and his literary works are also a subject of study.