1. The social situation in the early Tang Dynasty In 618 AD, Chinese history entered the Tang Dynasty, a prosperous dynasty. This was also a poetic dynasty in which culture flourished in an all-round way. In the early Tang Dynasty, the Li Tang Dynasty, which had just conquered the world, showed vigorous vitality and vitality like the rising sun. The rulers of the early Tang Dynasty complied with public opinion, adjusted the contradictions left over from the previous dynasty, and gradually won the hearts of the people. In the field of poetry, the epic poems at this time mostly relied on historical figures and events to praise the virtues of the new dynasty and the rationality of being ordered by heaven to benefit the people. At the same time, when they chanted history, they also used history as a reference and used past historical lessons to reflect on the current dynasty. They wrote many works that used the past to learn from the present. Their use of the past to learn from the present was full of desire, praise and confidence in governing the world. On the one hand, they have a deep understanding of the authority of history, and on the other hand, they have the confidence to know that the present is not as good as the past, reflecting a positive and healthy historical concept
2. The creation of the epic poem in the early Tang Dynasty The creation of epic poems by Zhenguan officials in the early stage of the early Tang Dynasty was centered on the political group of Zhenguan monarchs and ministers. Although there were also people from the lower class who were in the opposition, Wang Ji was the only one. In terms of theme and thought, the epic poems of this period mainly focused on the praise of the ancients and the reference to history, showing an obvious sense of Confucian historical perspective. Tang Taizong Li Shimin's "Ode to Sima Biao's Continuation of the Han Dynasty", Wang's "Ode to the Han Gaozu and Ode to the Marquis of Huaiyin", Wei Zheng's "Ode to the Western Han Dynasty", Zheng Shiyi's "Guo Yan Junping Ancient Well", Ouyang Xun's "Tao Shi", etc. all show this theme orientation. The creation of historical chants with Zhenguan monarchs and ministers as the core focuses on the praise and criticism of the ancients, the satirical significance of history and the praise of beautiful rules and regulations, which has a clear realistic orientation. At this time, history became a means of serving the real politics and religion
The creations in the early Tang Dynasty centered on the political group of Zhenguan monarchs and ministers, praising American rules and regulations, and showing an obvious sense of Confucian historical outlook. This is related to the orthodox Confucian view of literature and art. Although this kind of theme orientation makes the work contain a subtle meaning, it has a strong realistic relevance and reflects the atmosphere of political enlightenment and smooth speech at that time. The determination and confidence that the emperor and his ministers worked together to create a peaceful foundation had a profound spiritual impact on the literati of the Tang Dynasty. This is its advantage. However, due to excessive emphasis on the connection between history and reality, the author's own emotions were lacking, which appeared to be insufficient in poetic taste
The development of the creation of epic poems by late court poets entered the late Tang Dynasty. From the perspective of the creative subject, the identity transformation from Zhenguan officials to court and lower-class literati was realized. The historical writers in the early Tang Dynasty were more politicians in terms of their identity characteristics, and literature was just an afterthought for them. But in the later period, the creation of history chants truly passed into the hands of literati
In this period, the author group took the court literati as the leading force in the creation of history chants. The main poets include Zhang Wencong, Shangguan Yi, Song Zhiwen, Shen Qi, Cui, Li Qiao, Du Shenyan, Guo Zhen, Wang Wujing, Cui Rong, Li Shi, Liu Xian, Xu Jing, Xu Yanbo, Yu Jizi, Qiao Zhizhi, Qiao Bei, Wei Sili, Wu Shaowei, Zhao Yanzhao and others. The themes of their epic poems are mainly concentrated in two categories: 1. Feng He Ying's poems, mainly Shangguan Yi's fake poems to Lu Sikou, Song Zhiwen, Liu Xian, Zhao Yanzhao, Li, and Li Qiao's Feng He Xing Chang'an Old City Weiyang palace should make it, Wei Sili should make it on the fourth day of the lunar month, and Weibin should make it. In the early winter of Shen period, it should be made by Xinghan Gu Qingmen, etc. Except for Shangguan Yi's fake poem "Lu Sikou", these works are all from the Jinglong period of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty. Because they are made by Feng He Ying, most of them do not show true feelings and have little meaning
2. There are many works with female themes, especially Yuefu types, mainly Zhang Wencong Zhaojun Yuan, Shangguan Yi Wang Zhaojun , Song Zhiwen's Huansha Chapter is a gift to the land dweller Xi Shi Huansha Chapter Xi's Lady, Cui Jie Yu's complaint, Du Shenyan's poem about the fate of his concubine, Dong Sigong Zhaojun's complaint, Guo Zhen Wang Zhaojun's 3 poems, Wang Yuanjing's Fengtai Qu Bronze Bird Taiwan Wushan, Xu Yanbo Jieyu, Qiao Zhizhi's Green Pearl Chapter Bronze Bird Prostitute, Qiao Bei's Changmen complained about Wushan on an autumn night, Wang Shi's Bronze Bird Whore, Shen Qi's Changmen complained about Feng Xiao's Bronze Bird Taiwan Wang Zhaojun Wushan Gao 2 poems, Zhang Xunzhi Wushan Gao, Changmen's Resentment, Dongfang Qiuzhaojun's Resentment, etc. There are 32 poems in total, and the amount of creation is close to a quarter of the entire early Tang Dynasty epic poem. Most of these works do not have too deep ideological significance, the diction is gorgeous and flashy, and the theme development is small. They are another continuation of the style of Yuefu epic poems in the Southern Dynasties that focused on women
The works of the lower class literati in the later period When the court literati led the creation of epic poems to a kind of entertainment that should serve peace and praise the ancients, the lower-class literati who were far away from the temple had begun to use different methods in the surrounding areas. When encountering special times, their talents were high and their positions were low. Xian Momo uses his own unique emotional experience and historical concern to guide the development of epic poems into a healthy and benign track through his real-life encounters and impasse. Although compared with the court literati, their works are not large in number, and they do not occupy a dominant position in the creation of history chants, but the connotative themes and value significance highlighted by their works far exceed those of the palace. During this period, the lower-class literati who chanted history mainly included Chen Ziang, Lu Zhaolin, Yang Jiong, Luo Binwang, Wang Bo, Liu Xiyi, Wang Fanzhi, Wu Shaowei, etc. The most prominent among them was Chen Ziang.
The creations of the lower-class literati were first reflected in Yuefu songs In terms of literature, the main works include: Lu Zhaolin, Liu Sheng, Wang Zhaojun, Chang'an ancient meaning, Yang Jiong and Liu Sheng, Luo Bin, Wang Zhaojun's imperial capital chapter, Wang Bo's 2 Bronze Sparrow Prostitutes, Lin Gaotai, Wu Shaowei Nagato's Song of Resentment and other 12 poems, in total. The proportion of them is not very large. Among these works, there are also several old Yuefu songs with female themes.
In fact, this was written in the poetry circles of the early Tang Dynasty that generally followed the artistic expression trend of Qi, Liang, Chen and Sui Dynasties, and was influenced by the legacy of the Southern Dynasties, especially the habits of the upper-class literati at that time who learned from the Southern Dynasties. It has no characteristics.
3. The main characteristics of epic poems in the early Tang Dynasty: The creative team expanded during the early Tang Dynasty. The creative team of epic poems in the early Tang Dynasty expanded significantly, and creative groups of different levels appeared. One is the creative group of emperors and nobles, including Tang Taizong Li Shimin and his important ministers, such as Wei Zheng, Wang, Chu Liang, Yu Shinan, Li Baiyao, etc. This is a new feature of epic poetry in the early Tang Dynasty. Their creative achievements are not outstanding, but their courage to embrace the past and present is magnificent. Their special status is undoubtedly of great significance in expanding the influence of epic poems. The other group is intellectuals with low status but extraordinary talents. For example, the four heroes of the early Tang Dynasty all wrote poems about history and nostalgia, among which Lu Zhaolin and King Luo Bin were particularly prominent. In addition, Liu Xiyi, Chen Ziang and others also performed well
The themes were more extensive. Before the Tang Dynasty, the themes of epic poems were very limited. The most popular ones were Jing Ke, Sanliang, Wang Zhaojun and other historical figures. The large-scale history revision in the early Tang Dynasty enriched the literati's historical knowledge, opened up their historical horizons, and made their historical rationality more sound. Therefore, not only did more historical figures and historical deeds enter the poet's writing, but also epic poems with a certain dynasty as the object of chanting appeared, such as Wei Zheng's "Ode to the Western Han Dynasty" and Yu Shinan's "Ode to Wu Du". What is more important is the emergence of a large number of nostalgic poems that reflect the successes and failures of ancient people and chant them, which is of great significance for establishing the unity of nostalgic poetry. In addition to chanting about specific historical figures and events, poets also chanted about places related to certain historical figures or historical events. This greatly expanded the scope of subject matter and artistic expression capabilities of epic poems, making them carry richer meanings. sense of history. The emergence of epic poems that narrate the historical events of the dynasty is also a feature of the epic poems in the Tang Dynasty
The system is more enriched. The poets of the early Tang Dynasty not only inherited and developed the tradition of writing epic poems in ancient style and Yuefu since the Six Dynasties, but also used modern There have also been successful attempts at writing epic poems in style. In particular, the Wulu and Wujue epic poems were outstanding contributions by poets in the early Tang Dynasty to the system of chanting history
The epic poems in the Early Tang Dynasty obviously accepted the influence of the old poetry system, and its system was based on five-character ancient poetry and Yuefu poetry. Lord. In line with this system, the early Tang Dynasty epic poems mostly used prose in terms of expression, collecting historical events and narrating them into chapters. It is called "Ying Shi", but it is actually a narration of history. It is a combination of narration and praise, rather than the perfect unity of narration and chanting. The epic poems of this period written with ancient Yuefu inscriptions include Wang Zhaojun, Jie Yuyuan, and Tongqueqiu. , Nagato's Resentment against Wushan High School, etc., are mostly female themes, with obvious traces of palace resentment poems, and the style is pure resentment but not deeply satirical. On the basis of their predecessors, poets in the early Tang Dynasty also tried to use the Five Rhythms and Five Jue to write epic poems, such as Wei Zheng's Fu Xihan, Lu Zhaolin's Liu Sheng, etc. The number of words in these poems was significantly reduced, and they were written in a way that pursued rhyme. Although they were not particularly complete in the Five Rhythms and Five Jue's attempts, they had a positive impact on the poets of the Tang Dynasty who used the Five Rhythms and Five Jue to create epic poems.
4. The themes of the epic poems in the early Tang Dynasty were positive and confident, and the inspiration was No harm, observing the rise and fall of ancient and modern times, it is a reference for this dynasty. The Tang Dynasty was established after the short-lived Sui Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty was a very dramatic dynasty in Chinese history. It ended the 270-year division between the Northern and Southern Dynasties and unified the whole of China. However, the once glorious Sui Dynasty fell into ashes after only 37 years. It built canals, built the Great Wall, camped the Eastern Capital, conquered Goryeo, and built palaces, a series of grand events. , in exchange for rebellions and wars everywhere. The arrogance, cruelty and excessive indulgence of the ruler Sui Yang were undoubtedly the main reasons that ultimately led to his death and the destruction of the country. His ending served as a thrilling warning to later emperors
Li Shimin, the ruler of the early Tang Dynasty, and his important ministers saw with their own eyes the historical lessons of the fall of the Sui Dynasty, and using history as a mirror became their guide for almost all issues. starting point. The profound understanding that water can carry a boat or capsize it is the simple and great truth they summarized history and verified in reality. The main purpose of the large-scale history compilation from the period of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was this. Therefore, in the epic poems of the early Tang Dynasty, observing the rise and fall of the past and the present and being a tortoise mirror in the body is a basic theme
When the poets of the early Tang Dynasty chanted history, they paid attention to learning from the past and learned from the present, and were full of the desire to govern the world. , praise and confidence, reflecting a positive and healthy view of history. For example, Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, went to Santai to express his aspirations, combining chanting history with expressing his aspirations. While commenting on the Qin and Han Dynasties, he also included the intention of seeking lessons from history. He clearly saw that the rulers were in danger but still prosperous, and that living in luxury and serving people was the root of the country's downfall, so he used this as a warning to himself, to feel ashamed of himself and to work in the wilderness. As for the Xincheng Building, Hongcai stood in Weibin and clearly saw the important role of talents, and was full of confidence to recruit talents from all over the world to create a glorious and prosperous era. Reflecting on the past, this poem embodies the ambition and courage of a wise founder of a country. There is a poem written by Wei Zheng in the Western Han Dynasty: I was sent to Zhidao, and I strived for a long time in Hongmen. On the Wei Bridge, we watched the troops in Xiliu Village. The night banquet passed through Baigu and the morning tour left Duyuan. Finally, he borrowed the gift from his uncle and grandson, and then he knew that the emperor was respected. This poem narrates the events of Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wu, and ends with borrowing the rites from his uncle and grandson to realize that the emperor is respected and asking the king to establish etiquette is the foundation of governing the country.
Although it is purely a tribute to the Western Han Dynasty and a chant of events, it is not difficult to see the intention of admonishing the kings of this dynasty
The lessons learned from history by the emperors and ministers of the early Tang Dynasty were enough to enable them to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages in the practice of governing the country. , which in turn strengthens their confidence in grasping reality and creating the future. Their attitude towards seeking reference from history is positive, and they absorb the experiences and lessons of destruction in history with the grace and magnanimity of victors. Therefore, the poems chanted in the early Tang Dynasty were less satirical and more praising, but they were touching but not hurtful. Even the satirical meaning is based on the praise of the monarch. It is a kind of ardent expectation and encouragement, and it is the self-restraint of the monarch and his ministers to work hard
The desire for achievements and the ideal personality call for the attention of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty To recruit talents from all over the world, the Tang Dynasty's talent policy was very attractive until the early period of Tang Xuanzong's reign. Even the political turmoil of Wu Zhou's usurpation of Tang Dynasty did not affect the intellectuals' pursuit of life. Like the ruling class, intellectuals in the early Tang Dynasty also showed unprecedented confidence in facing history. Although their status is not high, they dare to look up to EMI and guide the country. In the preface to Lu Zhaolin's Yuefu Miscellaneous Poems, he passionately declares: There are new themes to develop. A hundred generations ago, he excavated the ancients and stood alone on the nine streams. He died by himself. Guangdong is here! Wang Bo was so excited that he sent a preface to Shao Wang's Mansion and declared a hundred times more ambitiously: Why did Confucius need to frequently delete his poems and books, because he didn't know that those who came were not here now; why did Zheng Kangcheng need to waste time on his classics and history, because he didn't think that the present is not as good as the past. Luo Binwang's poem said: Don't say that no one cares about the poor and the lowly. Don't say that wealth and honor must be planted. Lu Zhaolin also said: There is no end to the life of nobility and lowness. It is hard to be humble for a long time and does not treat each other by relying on material and scenery. The mulberry fields and the sea can change in a moment. This all reveals the literati's spirit. The firm belief that your destiny will eventually be changed and you will not stay in poverty for a long time
Using the theme to express the sadness of losing ambition. Although the early Tang Dynasty was ambitious and full of hope for EMI, there were times when the hope failed. The hope brought by the new era sometimes aggravates the sense of loss in reality. King Luo Bin expressed this idea very clearly in the Imperial Capital Chapter: Ma Qing's resignation to Shu was full of literary ideas, but there was no good matchmaker to promote the country. Three winters of self-respect are sufficient, and they will not change for ten years. The salary exceeded the accumulation, and Sun Hong Pavilion was not opened. Who regrets the Changsha Fu? He only loses to the Luoyang talents. In Chen Ziang's poems about praising history and remembering the past, this emotion of praising the past and lamenting the present is even more obvious. He felt the times and wanted to serve his country, but the world was incompatible with it, so he was full of frustration and hesitated in nostalgia. He used an enviable style to describe the beautiful stories of ancient monarchs and ministers meeting each other. King Wei was so lucky that he built a golden platform. When I boarded Youzhou Terrace, I saw no ancients before me and no newcomers after me. Thinking about the long journey of heaven and earth, the sad and tearful lament expresses the sadness and lonely life experience of being ignorant in the world. These sad words seem to be out of tune with the spirit of the times in the early Tang Dynasty, but behind them are precisely the ideals of making contributions and the anxiety of not being reconciled to mediocrity, which was inspired by the spirit of the times in the early Tang Dynasty.