Information about Tang poetry

Tang poetry generally refers to poetry written in the Tang Dynasty. Tang poetry is one of the most precious cultural heritages of the Chinese nation and a pearl in the treasure house of Chinese culture. It has also had a great impact on the cultural development of many ethnic groups and countries in the world.

Form Style

The forms of Tang poetry are diverse. There are mainly two types of ancient poetry in the Tang Dynasty: five-character poems and seven-character poems. There are also two types of modern poetry, one is called quatrains and the other is called rhymed poetry. Quatrains and rhymed poems are different in five words and seven words. Therefore, there are basically six basic forms of Tang poetry: five-character ancient poetry, seven-character ancient poetry, five-character quatrains, seven-character quatrains, five-character rhymed poems, and seven-character rhymed poems. Archaic poetry has relatively broad requirements for rhyme and rhythm: in a poem, the number of sentences can be more or less, the chapters can be long or short, and the rhymes can be switched. Modern poetry has stricter requirements on rhyme and rhythm: the number of sentences in a poem is limited, that is, four quatrains and eight lines in rhymed poetry. The rhythm and oblique tones of the words used in each poem have certain rules, and the rhyme and rhyme cannot be changed; rhymed poetry also requires middle lines. The four sentences become a counterpoint. The style of ancient poetry was handed down from previous generations, so it is also called ancient style. Modern poetry has a strict rhythm, so some people also call it metrical poetry.

The forms and styles of Tang poetry are colorful and innovative. It not only inherits the folk songs and Yuefu traditions of the Han and Wei dynasties, but also greatly develops the style of the song style; it not only inherits the five- and seven-character ancient poems of the previous generation, but also develops into a lengthy narrative romance; it not only expands the five-character and seven-character poems The use of form also creates modern poetry with a particularly beautiful and neat style. Modern poetry was a new style of poetry at that time, and its creation and maturity was a major event in the history of poetry development in the Tang Dynasty. It has pushed the artistic characteristics of syllable harmony and word refinement of our country's ancient poetry to unprecedented heights, and found the most typical form for ancient lyric poetry. It is still particularly popular among the people today. However, the rhythmic poetry in modern poetry has strict metrical restrictions, which easily restricts the content of the poem and prevents free creation and development. This is a big flaw brought by its strengths.

Periods

Early Tang Period

The representative writers of this period are the "Four Heroes of the Early Tang Dynasty" - Wang Bo, Yang Jiong, Lu Zhaolin, and Luo Binwang; in addition, there are also Chen Ziang was also a famous poet in the early Tang Dynasty. In terms of writing style, the works of poets in the early Tang Dynasty are full of variety, powerful and broad. They have gradually moved away from the narrow palace style poems in the Southern and Northern Dynasties and opened up a new world.

The prosperous Tang Dynasty

With the prosperous economy and strong national power, Tang poetry reached its peak, with broad themes and numerous genres, such as the "Frontier Poetry School" and the "Pastoral Poetry School". The great romantic poet Li Bai and the great realist poet Du Fu are the most outstanding representatives of this period. Their poems are regarded as the best of their generation. In their writings, whether they have five rhymes and seven rhymes, five unique styles and seven unique styles, and ancient style songs, they have reached high artistic achievements. As Han Yu said, "Li Du's writings are as bright as ever." For example, Li Bai's "Sleepwalking Tianmu Yin Farewell" and "About to Enter the Wine"; Du Fu's "Three Officials", "Three Farewells", etc.; Wang Wei and Meng Haoran represent the Pastoral Poetry School, and Gao Shi and Cen Shen represent the Frontier Poetry School.

Mid-Tang Dynasty

In the Mid-Tang Dynasty, poets had their own achievements. But the one with the most outstanding achievements is Bai Juyi. He put forward the progressive theoretical proposition of "articles are written according to the time, and poems are written according to the matter". He personally participated in the leadership of the "New Yuefu Movement". Bai Juyi's poems are clear and easy to understand. , deeply loved by the masses, and his representative works include "Song of Everlasting Sorrow", "Pipa Xing", etc.; in addition, Liu Yuxi and Li He's poems are also quite successful.

Late Tang Dynasty

The more famous poets of the Late Tang Dynasty include: Wen Tingyun, Li Shangyin, Du Mu, Wei Zhuang, etc. Among them, Li Shangyin and Du Mu are known as "Little Li Du".

Poet's title

Poetry bone - Chen Zi'ang: His poems are passionate in meaning, high in style, and have the "Han and Wei style", and are known as the "poetry bone".

Poetry Master--Wang Bo: His poems are fluent, graceful, grand and profound, and unique. He is known as "Poetry Master".

Poetry Maniac - He Zhizhang: He has an open-minded nature and calls himself "Siming Kuangke". Because of his bold and unrestrained poetry, he is known as "Poetry Maniac".

Poet Emperor (another term - Poet Master) Qijue Sage--Wang Changling: His Qijue poems are "deeply sentimental and resentful, and the sound and purpose are faint", so he is called the "Poet Emperor".

Poetic Immortal--Li Bai: His poetic imagination is rich and unique, his style is vigorous and unrestrained, his colors are gorgeous, and his language is fresh and natural. He is known as the "Immortal of Poetry".

Du Fu, the Saint of Poetry: His poems are closely integrated with current events and have profound thoughts. He has a broad realm and is known as the "Sage of Poetry".

Poetry prisoner--Meng Jiao: He worked hard to write poems and was miserable in business. Yuan Haowen once called him a "poetry prisoner".

Poetry Slave--Jia Dao: His life is devoted to composing poetry, and he likes to recite it deliberately, so he is called a "Poetry Slave".

Poetry Hero--Liu Yuxi: His poems are calm and solemn, with a natural and rough rhythm. Bai Juyi gave him the reputation of "Poetry Hero".

Poetic Buddha--Wang Wei: Many of Wang Wei's poems have a strong meaning of Zen Buddhism, and Zen is incorporated into poetry.

Poetry Demon--Bai Juyi: He wrote poems very hard. "The drunken mania also caused the Poetry Demon, and he chanted sadly at noon to the west." He was known as the "Poetry Demon".

The Great Wall of Five Characters--Liu Changqing: Good at five-character poems. His five-character poems account for 78/10 of all poems. He calls himself the "Great Wall of Five Characters".

Poetry Ghost--Li He: His poems are good at casting words, galloping imagination, and using myths and legends to create bright and colorful images, so he is called "Poetry Ghost".

Shixiong-Cen Shen

Sage of Seven Rhythms--Li Shangyin

Among them, Li Bai and Du Fu are collectively called "Li Du", and Li Shangyin and Du Mu are collectively called "Little Li Du" ".

School

Landscape Pastoral Poetry School

Representatives: Wang Wei, Meng Haoran,

Features: Many themes include green mountains and white clouds, secluded hermits The styles are mostly quiet and elegant, full of feminine beauty; the forms are mostly five-character ancient poems, five uniques, and five rhymes.

Representative works:

Wang Wei: "Dwelling in the Mountains in the Twilight of Autumn", "Ode to Xi Shi", "Remembering Shandong Brothers on September 9th", etc.

Meng Haoran: " "Passing the Old Friend's Village" etc.

Frontier Poetry School

Representatives: Gao Shi, Cen Shen, Wang Changling, Li Yi, Wang Zhihuan and Li Qi.

Features: Describe wars and battlefields, express the heroic spirit of defending the homeland, or describe the majestic scenery of the frontier, strange customs, or describe the cruelty of war, the darkness in the army, and conquests. The hardships and hardships express the yearning and feelings of national harmony.

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Cen Shen: "Bai Xuege Sends Judge Wu Back to the Capital"

Wang Changling: "Leaving the Fortress"

Li Yi: "Joining the Army in the Northern Expedition"

Wang Zhihuan: "Liangzhou Ci"

Li Qi: "Ancient Meaning"

Romantic Poetry

Representative figure: Li Bai.

Features: Focusing on expressing personal feelings, it sings about the desire and pursuit of personal value for a free life. The poems are free, unrestrained, smooth, rich in imagination and grand in momentum. Language advocates nature and opposes carving.

Representative works:

Li Bai: "Drinking Alone under the Moon", "Sleepwalking Tianmu Says Farewell", "The Road to Shu is Difficult", etc.

Realistic Poetry

Representative figure: Du Fu.

Characteristics: The artistic style of poetry is melancholy and frustrating, mostly expressing feelings of sadness, grief, and compassion. From the mid-Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, Du Fu's realistic style was inherited.

Representative works: "Three Officials", "Three Farewells", "Military Chariots", etc.

Causes of prosperity

When it comes to the reasons for the prosperity of Tang poetry, (of course, academic circles are constantly discussing it) the more common views are:

1: Tang Dynasty Modern society has solved many constraints in its development, and has made great progress in some political reforms and economic reforms. More importantly, the situation of "politics cut off by powerful families and officials" has basically ended, allowing ordinary people to The mind has been greatly liberated, thereby broadening the horizons for "poetry creation", one of the forms of cultural life, and the art of poetry has gained a "source of living water".

Two: Due to the general improvement of the economy, material conditions and extensive sources have been provided for the prosperity of literature.

Three: The literature accumulation of previous generations has been well inherited, thus laying a solid foundation for Tang poetry. It was only by carrying forward the cultural heritage of their predecessors that the poets of the Tang Dynasty were able to be eclectic, learn from others' strengths, innovate and bring forth the new, pushing Chinese poetry culture to a new peak.

Four. The imperial examination system was adopted in the Tang Dynasty. The examination content included poetry (poetry is highly general) and fu (literary and colorful rhymes), and the emperor also loved poetry. (This is very important!) This will inevitably lead to Paying attention to the 'social atmosphere' of poetry, therefore, improved the social status of literati.

Five: A very important point is that the politics of the Tang Dynasty were relatively open, especially in terms of religion and culture. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism were all advocated; foreign religions were allowed to spread in the country, which was important for the Tang Dynasty. It is a beneficial factor for people to broaden their horizons, activate their thoughts, and promote the formation of various styles and schools in literature and art. At the same time, the Tang Dynasty had a strong national power and its rulers were confident in themselves, so there was basically no "literary prison", so the literati were more courageous; (for example, when Li Bai was slandered, he just "gave money and released it"). As a result, the literati and The genre of poetry is broad, and the social issues reflected are quick and sharp. (Not a compliment)

Six: The Tang Dynasty implemented economic and cultural exchange policies with neighboring countries and border ethnic groups; music, dance, painting, architecture, etc. accepted the Western Regions and foreign influences (India , Central Asian countries), these new things also gave poets a broad and good artistic influence.

The development tradition of Tang poetry is divided into the early Tang Dynasty (618---712), the prosperous Tang Dynasty (713---770), the middle Tang Dynasty (771---835), and the late Tang Dynasty (836---907)

***Four periods. The prosperous Tang Dynasty was the peak of the prosperity of Tang poetry. Great poets such as Li Bai and Du Fu lived through this period. Nowadays, when talking about this topic, the focus is also to examine the development of "poetry" itself. This point is basically the same when comparing the historical process of Tang Dynasty society; development, ups and downs, and decline.