First of all, Shanglin Fu was written in the Western Han Dynasty, which is the work of Sima Xiangru, a master of Han Fu. It depicts the grand scale of Shanglin Garden, and further describes the grand scene when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty hunted. His creative background is the prosperous Western Han Dynasty, which shows the country's prosperity.
On the contrary, Preface to Lanting was written by Wang Xizhi, a famous calligrapher in the history of China in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was created at the foot of Zhu Lan Mountain in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, in order to meet literary friends. His creative background is the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which shows a metaphysical thought that transcends the secular and emphasizes personal spiritual pursuit and emotional expression.
From the time of creation, Shanglin Fu was written in the Western Han Dynasty, while Lanting Preface was written in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
In the form of expression, Shanglin Fu expresses the magnificence of Shanglin Garden and the hunting scene of the emperor through gorgeous rhetoric and grand momentum, which embodies the prosperity of the country. Preface to Lanting is presented in the form of calligraphy works, which shows the author's spiritual pursuit and artistic talent through beautiful calligraphy and natural emotions.
In terms of cultural connotation, Shanglin Fu shows the prosperity of the Western Han Dynasty, emphasizing the harmony and stability of the country and society. Preface to Lanting embodies the metaphysical thought of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, emphasizes the individual's emotional expression and spiritual pursuit, and shows a realm beyond the secular.
To sum up, there are significant differences between Shanglin Fu and Preface to the Lanting Pavilion in many aspects, which reflect the personal styles and emotional expressions of different creators in different historical periods.