Twelve Lectures on New Poetry (Old Peking University Lectures by Fei Ming)

Author: Fei Mingzhu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Fei Mingzhu was a favored disciple of Mr. Zhi Tang and one of his four major students. Mr. Fei had an extraordinary appearance, and his writings were equally remarkable, standing out uniquely in the Chinese literary scene of the 20th century with a profound influence. He incorporated the stylistic techniques of the Six Dynasties period's prose and late Tang poetry into the art of fiction. His prose was concise yet rich in meaning, though sometimes challenging and thought-provoking, it was highly engaging and enjoyable to read, with a dynamic interplay between emotion and art that invited repeated appreciation and reflection. Fei Mingzhu was not only a masterful novelist but also had insightful views on poetry. Twelve Lectures on New Poetry is a lecture series he wrote in the 1930s while teaching modern literature at Peking University's Department of Chinese Language and Literature. Unlike his novels, these essays are straightforward and unpretentious, free from obscurity or complexity. As lecture notes, they exude sincerity and meticulous craftsmanship. Centered around the unique argument that new poetry must express poetic content in the form of prose, the author provides a detailed and incisive analysis of the development of new poetry since the May Fourth Movement, evaluates poets and their works, and offers insightful critiques filled with charm. He also delves deeply into classical poetry with exceptional expertise. His writing is fresh, simple, and imbued with the elegance of Zen and Taoist philosophy, revealing a natural and effortless mastery of knowledge. Reading his works leaves one in awe of the breadth and depth of his understanding of new poetry, evoking vivid images of his demeanor as a lecturer in his time.