Tao Yuanming Anthology

Author: Tao Yuanming (Eastern Jin Dynasty), edited and compiled by Yuan Xingpei et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-03-01
Features: Tao Yuanming (365-427), also known as Yuan, styled Yuanliang, was known as Master Jingjie. He was a native of Chaisang, Xunyang (now south of Ji’an City, Jiangxi). He was an outstanding literary figure in ancient China. Tao Yuanming was a great poet of the Jin and Southern Dynasties period, known as the "Pioneer of Recluses in Poetry." His works celebrate pastoral life, depicting both the joys and hardships of labor. Centered around the themes of pursuing official career and retiring from it, his writings express the frustration of unfulfilled ideals and the lofty character of refusing to compromise with the ruling elite. His poetic style is simple and natural, rich in philosophical depth, described as "plain yet exquisite, lean yet substantial," and it has had a profound influence on later generations.