Tao Yuanming is the pioneer of pastoral poetry. His pastoral poetry, with its simple and natural language and lofty artistic conception, has opened up a new world for China poetry, which has been loved by many literary lovers and even directly influenced the pastoral poetry school in Tang Dynasty.
Tao's poems are plain and natural, which is refreshing. His poems show the simple taste of rural life and describe the quiet and beautiful rural scenery, which not only shows the poet's love for rural life, but also shows the sentiment of resolutely getting rid of dirty politics.
Su Shi once said in a book with Su Zhe that "I am not very good with poets, but there are not many good and profound poems, but their poems are qualitative and realistic, only comparable to Cao, Liu, Bao, Xie, Li and Du Fu". It is unfair for Su Dongpo to put Tao poetry above Li Bai and Du Fu, but he summed up the artistic style of Tao poetry with the words "quality and reality, wealth and reality", which is still very accurate. Su Dongpo regarded Tao Yuanming as a mentor and friend all his life. He not only loves his poems, but also admires him as a person. He once commented on Tao Yuanming: "If you want to be an official, be an official, don't be suspicious; If you want to be hidden, you will be hidden instead of looking for it. When you are hungry, you will buckle the door and beg for food; When you are full, welcome guests with chicken and millet. Ancient and modern sages are precious. "People attach importance to truth, so does poetry. Poetry comes from people's truth, which is the main reason why Tao poetry has enduring charm. In his later years, Su Shi said in The Book with Su Zhe: "I am deeply ashamed, deeply enlightened, and want to take the evening festival as a warning. "