The four Yuan poets’ unanimous pursuit in poetry creation is to learn from the Han, Wei and prosperous Tang Dynasties.
Introduction to the Four Masters of Yuan Poetry:
The Four Masters of Yuan Poetry: refers to Yu Ji, Yang Zai, Fan Zhen and Jiexisi. They were all civil servants at the time and were famous for their expertise in writing court records and steles of dignitaries.
After the Yuan Dynasty entered the middle period of the dynasty, as Confucianism gained official respect, the imperial examinations were restored, and social culture was further "Chinese". In this context, the poetry world at this time had a flavor of "the sound of the prosperous age", and its main representatives were Yu Ji, Yang Zai, Fan Zhen and Jiexisi, known as the "Four Yuan Schools". The four are the main embodiments of Yanyou's poetic style, and are also considered the most representative poets of the Yuan Dynasty.
Introduction:
Their poems typically reflected the popular literary concepts and fashions at that time, so they were highly praised by people at the time. The poetry creations of the four people are roughly the same in subject matter and content, and are also relatively similar in art. Hu Yinglin, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, commented on the characteristics of the poetry style of this period, "They are all vigorous and flowing, and the steps are mid-range. However, the style and sound are the same for everyone. There are probably many models to follow the situation, and few new rules.
Seeing that people in the Song Dynasty have more than enough algae paintings, ancient times "It's not enough." (Volume 6 of the "Shi Sou") just shows the artistic excellence of the "Four Masters". Of course, the artistic styles of the "Four Great Masters" are similar but have differences, and each of them also has some own characteristics. This is where they surpassed other poets at that time.
Yu Ji:
The best poet among the "Four Great Masters of Yuan Poetry" is Yu Ji. He is good at rhymed poetry. Whether it is five-rhythm or seven-rhythm, he writes with strict rhythm, precise and profound details, harmonious artistic conception and deep style. For example, Qilu's "Elegance to the Prime Minister of the Mountain":
The golden Ge is used to hold back the sunlight, but the southern crown is helpless and the north wind blows; the ovary was originally created by Han Qiu, but Zhuge Ning knew that Han Zuo had moved. The clouds are dark, the dragons are far away, the moon is bright, and the cranes are late. There is no need to go up to the new pavilion to look at it, it is not as good as before when I shed tears!
This is a rare masterpiece among Yuan poems. The poet blends deep historical sentiments into a rigorous artistic form, which is melancholy, vigorous and deeply touching. Although Yu Ji's official career was relatively smooth, he still hoped to return to his hometown in the south of the Yangtze River. His poem "The Wind Enters the Pine" contains the famous line "Apricot blossoms and spring rain in the south of the Yangtze River". This artistic conception often appears in his poems.