The first narrative poem in the history of China literature is Peacock Flying Southeast. Peacock Flying Southeast was originally a folk song in the last years of Jian 'an, and later it was included in Xu Ling's New Ode to Yutai. The realistic masterpiece in the history of Chinese poetry development is also the longest narrative poem in classical literature. The whole poem has more than 35 sentences and more than 1,7 words.
Through the description of the marriage tragedy of Jiao Zhongqing, a petty official in Lujiang, and his wife Liu Lanzhi at the end of the Han Dynasty, this paper tries to expose the evils of feudal ethics and patriarchal system, enthusiastically praises the rebellious spirit of Jiao and Liu who are loyal to love and would rather die than surrender, and expresses the strong desire of the broad masses of people for marriage autonomy.
Features
Peacock Flying Southeast has a complete and tortuous plot, rigorous structure and proper tailoring. The poem uses the techniques of comparison and narration commonly used in folk songs, which plays a role in setting off and rendering. At the same time, there are some lyrical interludes and environmental descriptions, which support the tragic atmosphere.
The language of the works is lively, and the folk songs have strong characteristics. At the end, it is written that Liu Jiao and his wife were buried together after their death. On the grave, pine, cypress and phoenix trees were born, with branches and leaves intersecting and mandarin ducks facing each other, which symbolizes the immortality of their love. From spirit to expression, they are all romantic.