Ruyuan Shi Hua (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Yuan Mei (Qing Dynasty), annotated by Gu Xuejie
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: This book is part of the series "Selected Works of Chinese Classical Literary Theory and Criticism." Yuan Mei, styled Zicai and styled Jianzhai, was a jinshi (imperial scholar) during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty and was renowned for his poetry and prose. He had extensive connections and was a leading figure in the poetic circles for over fifty years, widely known as the "Master of Shuyuan." Yuan Mei advocated for the concept of "spiritual essence" in poetry, emphasizing the natural and spontaneous reflection of a poet's immediate feelings, without focusing on the grandeur or refinement of the artistic realm or the high or low tone of the style.