柳宗元詩考

Abstract

Among the three T'ang poets Wang Wei 王維 (699-759), Wei Ying-wu 韋應物 (737-?) and Liu Tsung-yüan 柳宗元 (773-819) who have been said to have lived in solitude and rage, one ditects certain differences. In Liu Tsung-yüan's writings his convictions and bitter experiences are often reflected. The nature that he communed with was the naked, inartificial one, in which he discovered much beauty. This beauty, however, was not able to dispel his deeply felt grief. Because of a political change of the Yung-chen 永貞 year, Liu Tsung-yüan was removed from his post in the central government and transferred to a barbaric place, Yung-chou 永州. Hence his nature poems contain descriptions of profound suffering. Liu Tsungyüan's style was influenced by that of Hsieh Ling-yün 謝靈運 (385-433), the famous nature poet of the Six Dynasties. Unlike his contemporary Han Yü 韓愈 (768-824), Liu Tsung-yüan did neither admire Li Po 李白 nor Tu Fu 杜甫. This fact might help to explain the differences between Liu and Han.