Division Versus Integration:a Critical Analysis On The Items Of "the Twenty-four Modes Of Poetry"

The "Twenty-four Modes of Poetry", signed under the name of Sikongtu in the late Tang Dynasty, is a classic theoretical work of literature which expounds poetry by poetry. It attracts many researchers, who are at the same time attracted and daunted by its complicated and nuanced connotations. Divided into three chapters, this thesis argues that the twenty four items can be effectively approached through the concepts of "division" and "integration".Chapter1studies the poetries which suit the division method. The first section expounds four poetries:"Potent, Undifferentiated","Strong and Sturdy’"Swaggering Abandon", and "Essence and Spirit". The titles of each item contain two ideas that have independent implications, while the corresponding relationship between the poetic lines of an item and each word in its title is very clear. The second section expounds six poetries, which include "Lofty and Ancient","Lucid and Wondrous","Intricate Beauty","Delicate-Fresh and Rich-Lush","Expansive Contentment" and "Drifting Aloof". The words in these titles also have independent implications, but the poetic lines interpret them in an integrated manner.Chapter2studies another ten poetries which ought to be expounded by the integration method. The first section accounts for six poetries:" Firm and Self-Possessed","Reserve/Accumulation","Close-Woven and Dense","Twisting and Turning","Limpid and Calm" and "Transcendence". The two words in these titles have almost identical implications. The second section deliberates four more poetries:"Natural","Solid World"," Flowing Movement" and "Description". The two words in these titles must be seen as one integral phrase and cannot be seen separately.Chapter3emphasizes the uniqueness of the rest four poetries, which include " Decorous and Dignified "," Washed and Refined"," Disengagement and Rusticity" and "Melancholy and Depression". Since the words in these titles are interrelated in a subtle way, they can be both divided into two independent factors and integrated as entities.