Hai Cang Lou Poetry Collection

Author: Zheng Xiaoxu, edited by Huang Kun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: The Hai Cang Lou Poetry Collection includes 13 volumes of 1,043 poems by Zheng Xiaoxu. In modern Chinese history, Zheng Xiaoxu served as the Prime Minister of Manchukuo under the puppet regime, and was widely disdained for his betrayal of national integrity. However, in the history of modern Chinese literature, he was a renowned poet and the leader of the Min School during the late Qing Dynasty (Tongguang era). As an important poet who stood out in the history of modern Chinese poetry, his creative practice was closely tied to his poetic theories. His artistic success stemmed not only from his ability to summarize and inherit the achievements of predecessors but also from his independent and innovative spirit, unwilling to fall into the conventions of the past. In terms of ideological content, his poems include both works that fiercely condemn his hostility to the Xinhai Revolution and his flattery of Japan, as well as poems depicting family affection and travelogues. In the spirit of judging a person by their words rather than discarding their contributions, the Institute of Ancient Books has meticulously collated and edited Zheng’s poetry collection. In the Preface, it provides a concise introduction and analysis of his poetic achievements, noting that due to Zheng Xiaoxu’s contradictions in his political career—such as (), (), and ()—these are fully reflected in his poems, presenting a disorganized coherence and conflicting truths: the works themselves are inconsistent, yet they align with his life’s actions and his state of mind at the time. Additionally, because Zheng Xiaoxu’s poetic styles changed throughout his life, the forms and styles of his poems also exhibit diversity and inconsistency.