Selected Explanations of Poetic Theories Throughout History

Author: Rick
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The discussions and critiques of classical Chinese poetry throughout Chinese history are vast and numerous, numbering over hundreds of works. This book was originally compiled for the learning needs of the classical poetry program in senior universities. After being tested in teaching and further revised, it has also become an invaluable learning tool and reference for all readers who love classical poetry. Learning classical poetry naturally emphasizes practice. However, starting from the aesthetic characteristics of Chinese classical poetry and proceeding from its cultural spirit may be the necessary path to achieving creative freedom in classical poetry. This book includes 900 poetic critiques, from the ancient classics Confucius and Mencius to modern figures like Gong Zizhen and Wang Guowei, each annotated. The compiler and annotators are meticulous and rigorous, selecting scholars whose views are widely known and avoiding personal biases. The sources are also highly reliable. China is not only a kingdom of poetry but also a place with an extremely rich tradition of poetic theory. As early as the Shangshu·Yaodian, the phrase "poetry expresses the mind" was proposed, and the founder of Confucianism, Confucius, discussed poetry extensively on multiple occasions. Throughout various historical records and literary manuscripts, there are numerous discussions about poetry. The Poetic Critiques (Shiji) by Zhong Rong of the Southern Dynasties was a dedicated work on poetic critique. Ouyang Xiu's Six-One Poetic Dialogues of the Song Dynasty provided a specific term for poetic critiques, leading to the rapid emergence of "poetic dialogues" (shihua), with over dozens of works produced during the Song Dynasty alone. By the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the genre reached its peak. According to Jiang Yin's Studies on Qing Poetic Dialogues, there were nearly a thousand Qing-era poetic dialogues, with 464 of them personally seen by him, while over 500 more are lost. These dialogues critique poems, discuss poetic techniques, record anecdotes, and are crucial for understanding the fine traditions of Chinese poetry and improving poetic creation and appreciation. However, the sheer volume of poetic critiques and dialogues is indeed overwhelming. In both self-study and teaching, I deeply felt the need for a book that could distill the essence while remaining appropriately concise, allowing readers to grasp the core in one volume. This idea was supported and encouraged by many fellow poets. Thus, I resolved to attempt it, visiting bookstores and libraries, gathering materials, consulting ancient texts, selecting and excerpting, and arranging annotations. After years of effort, this book has finally been brought to the readers.