The "Li Du" in "Li Du's poems have been passed down by thousands of mouths, but they are no longer new" refers to the poets Li Bai and Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty. The poet Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty is also called the Immortal of Poetry, and Du Fu is also called the Saint of Poetry. Li Bai and Du Fu are also collectively known as "Big Li Du", distinguished from "Little Li Du" (Li Shangyin and Du Mu).
"Li and Du's poems have been passed down by thousands of mouths, but they are no longer new" comes from the second of "Five Poems" by Zhao Yi of the Qing Dynasty.
The original text is "On Five Poems·Part Two".
Zhao Yi [Qing Dynasty]
Li and Du's poems have been passed down by thousands of mouths, but they are no longer new.
Talented people have emerged from generation to generation, and each has led the way for hundreds of years.
Translation:
The poems of Li Bai and Du Fu have been praised by thousands of people, and it seems that there is nothing new after they have been passed down to this day.
In every dynasty in history, talented people appeared, each creating a new trend and leading the poetry world for hundreds of years.
Extended information:
Appreciation of "Five Poems: Part Two":
The first and second sentences point out that even great people like Li Bai and Du Fu poets, their poems also have historical limitations.
In the third and fourth sentences, the poet calls for a sense of innovation, hoping that poetry writing should have the spirit of the times and individual characteristics, boldly innovate, and oppose being conservative.
People often use this poem to praise the emergence of talents, or to express that a new generation replaces the old, or that the rise of a new generation is like the rolling Yangtze River, which cannot be stopped.
This reflects the author's belief that innovation is the key to poetry creation. He believes that poetry continues to develop with the times, and poets should seek innovation and change when creating. Not only the works of the ancients are the best, but every era has its own poets with their own style.
Write that future generations will inherit their predecessors. Although the language of this poem is straightforward, its meaning is profound. "Talented people have emerged from generation to generation, and each has led the way for hundreds of years." This sentence expresses the theme and center of the development of literary creation with the changes of the times.
Zhao Yi's poetry advocates innovation and opposes mechanical models. Through a review of the achievements of poets Li Bai and Du Fu, from the perspective of historical development, he found that every era has its leading figures, and there is no need to follow the example of the ancients. Poetry should also continue to evolve with the times.