阮籍の詠懷詩について(上)

Abstract

Juan Chi 阮籍 (210-263), the famous philosopher of the Wei dynasty and one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, left 82 five-word poems, entitled "Lyrics." These poems seem to mark a distinct stage in the history of the five-word poem, which originated in the songs of the common folk in the Han dynasty but had been taken over by the Wei literati half a century before Juan's time. Juan's "Lyrics" are no longer confined to the expression of personal feelings, as had been true of the anonymous five-word poems of the Han and even of the work of earlier Wei poets. They deal, rather, with the broad problems of humanity as contemplated by a philosopher. In other words, his poems treat subjects which formerly had been handled only in fu, i.e., rhymed prose. As a result, he often complains of his absolute solitude, which cannot be understood by others. Though his lament originates, as had been true of earlier poets, in an awareness of the ease with which one's happiness can be frustrated, for him such frustration is no longer a matter of chance in the life of an individual but is considered the fate of all mankind. In his hatred of time as the cause of frustration he follows the Han poets, but with him the feeling goes deeper. According to Juan, time not only steals the joys of youth but is a constant omen of frustration to come.