The definition of poetry was proposed by Bai Juyi.
Selected from "Nine Books of the Yuan Dynasty" by Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty. Genqing: Based on feelings. That is, emotion is its foundation. Hua Sheng: The sound rhymes with flowers. That is, phonology is its flower. Miao language: Use language as the leaves of Miao language. That is, language is its seedling leaves. Actual meaning: Taking thought as the source of fruit. That is, thought is its fruit. Yi, meaning. This refers to the content of thoughts.
Meaning: For poetry, emotion is its foundation, language is its leaves, sound is its flower, and thought is its fruit.
Introduction to the true meaning of the poet's feelings and seedlings
The author uses trees to metaphor the status and role of each element in the poem, and realizes that the emotions and meanings embodied in the poem are like Plant roots and fruits. Only when the roots are deep can the leaves be luxuriant, and when the leaves are luxuriant, can bright flowers bloom and abundant fruits be produced.
This metaphor vividly illustrates the relationship between the content and form of poetry, that is: content and emotion are the foundation of poetry, and external forms such as language and rhyme must serve the content and be organically integrated and perfectly unified with the content. in order to play its social role.
According to this point of view, Bai Juyi, after the "Book of Songs", especially praised Du Fu's famous works such as "Xin'an Officials", "Shihao Officials", "Tongguan Officials", and "Zhumen Wine Hail Splits Cherry Blossoms and Meat Smells" Famous lines such as "The road is frozen to death" and other famous lines, while the formalistic writing style and works since the Six Dynasties that are divorced from reality, decadent and decadent, "mocking the wind and snow, playing with flowers and plants" are powerfully criticized and denied.
Because of its clear-cut stand, firm attitude, and basically appropriate praise and criticism, it provides a strong theoretical basis for the "New Yuefu Movement" in poetry.