Palace poetry refers to poetry that originated in the palace and describes palace life as its basic content. The style is usually frivolous and gaudy. In other words, palace poetry is a kind of court literature with specific content and style. Palace style poetry first originated from people's name for Xu Zhen's poetry style. It was named after its popularity in the East Palace of the Prince. The unique artistic characteristics of this type of poetry are: emphasis on rhetoric, antithesis, and rhythm. The representative figures are Xiao Gang, Emperor Wen of Jian Dynasty, etc.
Palace poetry refers to palace-style erotic poetry, or palace-centered erotic poetry. It is a historical term, so strictly speaking, palace style poetry should also refer to An erotic poem centered on the East Palace when Emperor Jianwen of Liang Dynasty was the crown prince, and several palaces including Empress Chen, Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty, and Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty.
The so-called palace style poetry of the Southern Dynasties is a poetry genre popular in the late Liang Dynasty and the Chen Dynasty. The main writers are the Xiaoliang royal family and their literary attendants. Most of them describe the beauty of women, with skillful forms and strict rhythms, forming a unique landscape of poetry in the Liang and Chen periods. At the same time, this style of poetry was also called palace poetry because it was popular among the scholars in Xiao Gang's palace at that time.
Another explanation: It refers to a writing style that focuses on writing about palace life and boudoir feelings, with emphasis on tone and rhythm, and beautiful and light words. It originated during the Qi and Liang Dynasties and reached its peak during the reign of Xiao Gang and his surrounding literati.
The name "Gong Ti" first appeared in the comment about Xiao Gang in "Liang Shu·Jian Wen Di Ji": "However, because of Qing Yan, it was called Gong Ti at that time." However, this style of poetry has its beginnings since Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty and Wu Jun, He Xun and Liu Xiaochuo. The main authors of palace-style poems are Xiao Gang, Xiao Yi and some literati gathered around them, such as Xu Qian, Yu Jianwu, Xu Ling, etc. The empress of Chen, Chen Shubao, and his attendant literati can also be classified into this category. Criticisms of palace-style poetry have always been that many of them are about women's lives and postures. In fact, the content of palace-style poetry is not limited to women's lives. There are also some lyrical poems about objects. Even the works about women's lives are of low style. are only in the minority. Generally speaking, the mood of palace-style poetry is light and colorful, and the poetic style is relatively soft and slow. As for Xiao Gang, Xiao Yi and others who are known as palace-style poets, they have also written many beautiful and readable works. As for Yu Jianwu, Xu Ling, etc., they have some more excellent poems.