Research On Shuzhai Poetry In The Tang Dynasty

In the Tang Dynasty,colorful academic activities of intellectuals often took place in their secluded private studies,or more precisely called“Shuzhai” in ancient China.Reading,composing,painting and calligraphy,appreciation,meditation and other activities were recorded in various documents of the Tang Dynasty.More importantly,Shuzhai no longer serves as the main background of intellectuals' life,but occupies an increasingly important position in these activities.As the saying goes,“A Shuzhai is a small world,while the world is a big Shuzhai.” As indispensable living space for intellectuals in the Tang Dynasty,Shuzhai showed the normal daily life of a generation of intellectuals,and thus shaped their way of thinking and aesthetic tendency towards everything in the world.In the Tang Dynasty,Shuzhai itself had developed from merely physical space to spiritual construction,and meanwhile,it became a unique aesthetic object with special interest in the presentation of literature.At present,the academic studies on Shuzhai poetry of the Tang Dynasty are deficient.Therefore,this paper begins with the basic situation of Shuzhai poetry in the Tang Dynasty,which regards scholars' Shuzhai themselves as subjects.Then this paper explores in detail the increasing tendency of this genre,and its evolution and development have also been interpreted.On this basis,the content and purport of Shuzhai poetry are classified and its artistic styles are analyzed.Lastly,this paper concludes the reasons why Shuzhai poetry flourished in the Tang Dynasty,which will give individuals an insight into this type of poems.The content of this paper can be divided into the following five parts:The first part is mainly about the basic situation of Shuzhai poetry in the Tang Dynasty,whose origin,development,evolution andclassification are stated in detail.Besides,the number of Shuzhai poetry and the main authors of this genre,as well as its evolution and development are summarized.The main focuses are as follows: Since the Tang Dynasty,Shuzhai poetry had been increasing.The evolution of this genre from its early period,its prime,middle period to the late period in the Tang Dynasty has been analyzed,according to its characteristics in different stages.These pave the way for the following analysis and research on Shuzhai poetry.The second part mainly analyzes and interprets Shuzhai poetry in the Tang Dynasty by different specific types,laying a foundation for exploring the emotional and artistic characteristics contained in Shuzhai poetry.The content and purport of Shuzhai poetry include: concern for one's country and people,and expression of anxiety and depression(the place where inspires a poet's ambition);peace of mind,and feelings of sheer delight and enjoyment(the place where enlightens a poet and he/she acquires knowledge);leisure and satisfaction,spiritual enlightenment and refinement(the place where a poet refines himself/herself);sorrow and anxiety,loneliness and melancholy(the place where a poet sojourns);being unworldly from the secular,living in seclusion into remote mountains and forests(the place where a poet secludes himself/herself).The five sub-parts above are respectively analyzed and discussed.The third part analyzes and investigates artistic styles and characteristics of Shuzhai poetry in the Tang Dynasty.Besides,to clarify these,this part discusses five aspects: the selection of poetic images inside and outside Shuzhai;the creation of artistic conception about refined art and elegant style;the application of appealing and interesting literary allusion;the speculative philosophy about Zen and Taoism;the implicit and meaningful linguistic styles.The fourth part mainly analyzes the reasons for the prosperity of Shuzhai poetry in the Tang Dynasty: the beginning of ancient imperialexamination and official career system,the rise and development of private and public education,the failure of one's political career and the severe social situation,as well as the influence of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism.The fifth part mainly analyzes the significance of Shuzhai poetry of the Tang Dynasty in the literary history and its social value,which involves the expansion of the scope of subsequent subject matter,the arrangement of aesthetic connotation and implication,and the influence of creative ideas and interest.In conclusion,various aspects of Shuzhai poetry in the Tang Dynasty have been comprehensively researched and explored,enough to capture the essence of its profound significance and emotional expressions.Therefore,this paper provides a new perspective for the expansion and inheritance of the subject matter of poetry,and is conducive to enriching the implications and interest of Chinese classical poetry,so as to make Shuzhai poetry of the Tang Dynasty become a far-reaching sparkle in the history of poetry.