The creation of a pure and beautiful poetic realm
After more than ninety years of development, the poetry of the early Tang Dynasty expanded in subject matter, matured the techniques of describing objects and scenes, perfected the rhythm, and improved the character of the poem. The formation and many other aspects have laid the foundation for the prosperity of Tang poetry art. At the same time, Zhang Ruoxu and Liu Xiyi provided successful experience in the creation of pure and beautiful poetry.
Zhang Ruoxu was a poet at the turn of the early Tang Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty. He entered the poetry world roughly at the same time as Chen Ziang and others. Due to the lack of accurate historical records, his life story is unknown. We only know that he was from Yangzhou and served as a military officer in Yanzhou. He was as famous as He Zhizhang, Zhang Xu and Bao Rong, and was known as the "Four Scholars in Wuzhong". There are only two of his poems left, but one, "Spring River with Flowers and Moonlight Night", established his status as a great poet in the history of Tang poetry. This is a long song line, using the old title of Yuefu, but the author has given it new content, integrating painting, poetry and understanding of the mysteries of the universe and the philosophy of life, creating a blend of scenes, exquisite and thorough. A poetic realm with no trace to be found. The poet first starts from the peaceful beauty of the Spring River on a moonlit night:
The tide of the Spring River reaches the sea level, and the bright moon on the sea rises with the tide. The twinkling waves follow the waves for thousands of miles, but there is no moon on the spring river! The river flows around the meadow, and the moonlight shines on the flowers and forests like snowflakes; frost flies in the sky, and the white sand on the terrace is invisible.
In the moonlight, the vast and transparent spring river scenery shows the magic and beauty of nature. While feeling this beautiful scenery, the poet is immersed in the recognition of the passing years. He can't help but feel the moonlight in the river, sky, and thoughts about a beautiful life:
The river and the sky were completely dustless, and there was only a solitary moon in the bright sky. Who by the river saw the moon for the first time? When did Jiang Yue shine on people? Life is endless from generation to generation, but the river and the moon are only similar year by year. I don’t know who the river and the moon are waiting for, but I see the Yangtze River sending flowing water.
From the infinity of time and space, I imagined the infinity of life, feeling mysterious and intimate, showing a deeper and more comprehensive consciousness of the universe. The poet seems to be satisfied with the innocent questions that do not need to be answered, but he is also confused, because after all, time is like running water and it is difficult to return. Therefore, the second half of the poem turns to describe the separation and farewell emotions of a wanderer in the world who misses his wife:
The white clouds fade away leisurely, and the green maple pond is full of sorrow. Whose family is in a boat tonight, where can I miss the moonlight tower? The poor moon wanders upstairs and should be seen in the dressing mirror. The jade door curtain cannot be rolled away, and it comes back when the clothes are smashed and brushed on the anvil. At this time, we look at each other but don't hear each other. I hope that the moonlight will shine on you. The swans fly long and fast, and the fishes and dragons dive and jump into the water. Last night, I dreamed of falling flowers in the pond, but it was a pity that I didn’t return home in the middle of spring. The spring water in the river is gone, and the moon has set in the west again. The slanting moon hides the sea fog, and the Jieshi and Xiaoxiang roads are endless. I don’t know how many people are returning by the moon. The falling moon shakes the trees all over the river with love.
A touch of sadness is blended into the clear poetic environment. This kind of sadness achieved with grace flows in the heart with the moonlight and river water, slowly and charmingly. When the whole poem ends with "I don't know how many people are returning by the moon, the falling moon shakes the trees all over the river with love", there is still an unforgettable lingering charm.
Similar poetic realm creation can also be seen in Liu Xiyi's poems. His representative work "The Sad Pulsatilla" touches the scene and evokes emotions, and rises with falling flowers:
The peach and plum blossoms in the east of Luoyang City fly around and fall into someone's house. The daughter of Luoyang is so pretty, she sighs when she sees the falling flowers. The colors of the flowers will change this year, but who will be there next year when the flowers bloom again? I have seen the pines and cypresses destroyed for wages, and I have even heard that the mulberry fields have turned into the sea. The ancients never restored the east of Luocheng, but today people still admire the wind of falling flowers. The flowers are similar every year, but the people are different every year. If you send a message to a beauty who is in full bloom, you should pity the half-dead white-headed man. This old man is so pitiful with his white head, he is such a beautiful young man in the past. Prince Wang Sunfang is singing and dancing under the tree in front of the fallen flowers. The terrace of Guanglu Pond is decorated with beautiful flowers, and the general’s pavilion is painted with immortals. Once I am sick and have no acquaintance, who will I have to spend the three springs with? How long can I turn my eyebrows, and my crane's hair will be as messy as silk in a moment? But looking at the ancient singing and dancing place, only the birds are sad at dusk.
In the deep sigh, there is a hazy awakening of life consciousness. From the understanding of the recurrence of nature and the fleeting youth, the poet wrote the famous line "Years" that are widely circulated. Flowers are similar every year, but people are different every year.” The image of flowers being similar but people being different hides the poet's condolences for the short life. This sentiment of youthful sadness runs through the entire novel, and becomes more intense through the contrasting descriptions of the pretty boy and the white-headed man, creating a poetic realm with vivid imagery and endless charm.
Zhang Ruoxu and Liu Xiyi have made progress in the creation of poetic artistic conception, such as integrating real life experience into beautiful images, combining poetry and painting, strong emotional atmosphere, empty and pure poetic realm, etc. It shows that the creation of artistic conception of Tang poetry has entered the stage of perfection. It is very natural that the Tang Dynasty poetry, with its exquisite and incomprehensible phenomena, appears.