Historical poems are a kind of poems that reflect social reality and express the author's thoughts and feelings by praising or mourning historical figures and events. In China's classical poems, the theme of praising history and nostalgia has a long history. Generally speaking, the ancient people and things praised are typical and have strong practical significance. And most of them come from the decline of dynasties, political darkness or the eventful autumn of the country. Poets may "borrow the past to satirize the present" to express their worries and dissatisfaction with social reality; Still rely on the ancients, rely on the things of the ancients to pin their ideals and aspirations, and pin their own life feelings.
Different from previous poems about history and nostalgia, the unique situation in Song Dynasty made poets pay special attention to the history of the rise and fall of the previous generation, and because they were determined to recover their homeland and reorganize their rivers and mountains, they had more heroic complex and frustration that heroes were useless. In the late Northern Song Dynasty, the imperial court was weak and was constantly humiliated for peace. His works often show admiration for the prosperity and power of the former dynasty, as well as for those heroes who have made outstanding achievements. The mountains and rivers in the Southern Song Dynasty were broken, the Central Plains was ruined, and the court did not compromise, which made it difficult for many people with lofty ideals to get a return. While feeling the apathy of the world, the poets expressed their grief, anxiety and pain over the storms of the times and their dissatisfaction with the rulers.
The emergence and development of epic in Song Dynasty expanded the theme of epic and enhanced the authenticity of epic. Although poets take history as their discourse, they often pay attention to reality. While they are generous and sad, they often express their thoughts in one way or another, and often show graceful charm in their boldness.