First, what is metaphysical poetry: the combination of Laozi's and Zhuangzi's thoughts and Buddhist thoughts.
Metaphysical poetry, especially in Wei and Jin Dynasties, mainly focuses on Laozi and Zhuangzi, supplemented by Buddhism. Its source is metaphysics, which developed rapidly in Wei and Jin Dynasties. Jian 'an's poetic style follows the poem from the beginning, which is a kind of pseudo-life. This paper tries to find and point out the way of life by talking about metaphysics and emptiness, so that the talker can get some spiritual detachment.
Metaphysical poetry is an important content of metaphysical poets' poetry creation. Representatives are often celebrities in Wei and Jin Dynasties. The representatives are Sun Chuo and Xu Xun. However, not all celebrities in Wei and Jin Dynasties were advocates or powerful creators of metaphysical poems. For example, Wang Xizhi wrote metaphysical poems, but his focus was not on metaphysics, but on some philosophical views with metaphysical poems. His metaphysical poems are not widely circulated, but the Preface to Lanting Collection, which was written for the metaphysical poetry creation conference, has achieved enduring effects in both calligraphy and literature.
The Rise of Metaphysical Poetry: Metaphysical Poetry and Literary Consciousness
(1) literary view: fashion and mentality
Teacher Yuan Xingpei's History of China Literature (Volume II, Second Edition) said: Metaphysical poetry and the prosperity of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, on the one hand, are the result of the prosperity of metaphysics in Wei and Jin Dynasties, on the other hand, are also related to the political situation of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the resulting scholar mentality.
The so-called metaphysics in Wei and Jin Dynasties refers to that in Wei and Jin Dynasties, scholars used metaphysics to explain classics and personnel. Especially explaining the works of Lao Zi and Zhuangzi. Metaphysics is a brand-new theory, which includes the philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi and Buddhism. The so-called wind of conversation clearly emphasizes sitting and talking. Constantly comment and analyze a viewpoint and event in the way of Buddhist debate. Emphasis on refutation and accurate and thorough analysis, but no fireworks. Some talkative people can keep breaking and standing, standing and breaking. Even the theory he just established was immediately broken. Keep reversing. Form a wonderful oral expression.
Say metaphysics with your mouth, and use poetry and text to say metaphysics. When you talk for a long time, the words become your own. The transformation from oral literature to written literature is a relatively natural process. The result and talk of this so-called metaphysics in Wei and Jin Dynasties.
What was the political situation in the Eastern Jin Dynasty? The Three Kingdoms, the Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties are the most chaotic centuries in China's history. Ministers kill kings, and kings kill ministers. The warlords are separated, and the people are in trouble. Scholars can't survive, let alone create, no matter what faction they are attached to. Therefore, the scholars in the Eastern Jin Dynasty showed various thoughts such as "seeking immortality", "seclusion", "speculation" and "doing things". A doer who participates in state affairs will be killed. Speculators, who fail to speculate, are naturally killed; Hermit school, or hidden in the city, or hidden in the DPRK, or hidden in the mountains, does not care about the world, nor does it care about the quality of the world, but only does its own thing and saves itself. The fairy-seeking society will focus on the future of fairyland and dare not have too much hope for the present. It merged with one of the hermits to form Xuanzang School.
If you can't do things in the world, you might as well seek the outside. If you cling to the world of mortals, you will be easily killed. Under the influence of these two periods, it is the best choice to talk about metaphysics and retreat by combining the fashion and metaphysical poems at that time.
(2) Reading experience: literary consciousness
In addition to the above two reasons, I am afraid there is another reason for the rise of metaphysical poetry. This is the consciousness of literature. The consciousness of literature is reflected in many aspects: literature has become an independent discipline different from Confucianism; Literature has its own unique aesthetic characteristics; There are many divisions in literature itself, and different styles are divided. The consciousness of literature still has a key driving force-the development of literature and the development of literati's self-consciousness.
Just as people grow up, they must have an independent consciousness; The development of literature will also make literature itself gradually have an independent consciousness. Seek innovation, change, breakthrough and development. When poetry developed to the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, both the poetic style (four-character poetry), the words used and the content of expression were bred for a long time, which was outdated and needed greater development and breakthrough. So there were new changes in the later period. The new changes in this period are the so-called metaphysical poems. Metaphysical poetry has further developed and has a new world.
The development of metaphysical poetry is the preparation of modern poetry. In metaphysical poems, there is an interest in rationality, pastoral scenery, transcendence and seclusion. When the troubled times passed, the sense of interest was fully developed in the Song Dynasty, such as Yang Wanli's and Zhu's interesting poems. Landscape pastoral poetry, through the wonderful pen of Tao Yuanming, Xie Lingyun and others, quickly boarded the historical stage and rose above the times. As for the realm of detachment and seclusion, it has become an inexhaustible theme throughout the ages.
Metaphysical poetry is the development of poetry itself to this stage, showing a unique poetic style according to the situation at that time.
Third, the decline of metaphysical poetry: the inevitability of the times
Undoubtedly, even the poetic style in the transitional period has its own life track. I don't know when the sun is shining, I don't know when it is spring and autumn. But twilight and spring and autumn are their "long" lives. If there is a rise, there will naturally be a fall. And decline, often the conditions that rose before began to fade.
Metaphysics and the decline of talking clearly. Talking about metaphysical seclusion is not conducive to practice. Passive seclusion is at best stealing clocks. The decline of metaphysics is doomed. The troubled times need to end and the culture needs to be sorted out. Pragmatic work can make the career develop. Therefore, both metaphysics and the corresponding empty talk are bound to decline.
Jian 'an's character has experienced the decline of Zhengshi literature and Taikang literature, but no matter in which period, someone will continue Jian 'an's generosity. When the times need it, it is the right time, and the wind of fortitude is gradually on the stage.
During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, folk songs were very powerful. The folk songs in the Southern Dynasties take love as the main singing content, which is bold and straightforward. Love songs, military songs and life songs in the Northern Dynasties are rich and bold. The orthodox literati poems represented by Xie Lingyun and Bao Zhao completely broke the retreat of metaphysical poetry in two directions (landscape poetry and bold poetry). Xie Lingyun sculpts mountains and rivers and implements them with words; Bao Zhao expressed his feelings and turned ethereal into reality. Even in the later Yongming style, there are more but more practical provisions on syllable rhyme and rhythm system. It is the fracture of metaphysical poetry and the landing of poetry itself.
Times are still chaotic, and literati are still suffering. But under the test of the times, after all, it has stronger compression resistance. Strength is accumulating and thoughts are exercising. Presented in culture, there will naturally be more performances. The development of culture itself is also breaking through this inherent barrier, showing new and more forms.
Fourth, general: it seems that clowns live.
Metaphysical poetry, now read, only feels like a freak. The text is crooked and the content is empty. Zhong Rong's Poem says: Yongjia, I'm still talking when I'm old. What was written, said and said at that time was chicken ribs. Therefore, on the river, microwaves are still spreading. Sun Chuo, Huan and Yu all have poems, just like moralism. Jian 'an did his best. It's a comment.
However, to understand that it was the product of a transitional period, we should realize that it occupied a dominant position in the Eastern Jin Dynasty after all and was an indispensable part in the history of China literature. If we ignore it directly, we can't fully understand Yongming style and even Sui and Tang poetry. He looks like a clown and has his own unique life. If poetry is regarded as a whole life, metaphysical poetry is also an important part of this life experience.
On the other hand, understanding this poetic style is also of great significance to poetry and even literary creation in today's era. Such as pear-shaped poems, five sense organs key poems, slogan poems and so on. Is it another change of metaphysical poetry? Even if we appreciate Goddess and Tiangou by Guo Moruo and Retreat Notes by Shi Tiesheng, we need to be mentally prepared. By extension, how should we deal with the unique and incomprehensible new things of the times? On the other hand, today's popular poetry and other styles will be called "metaphysical poetry" in a few years?
That makes sense. I forgot what I wanted to say.