<<

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 34

AANNTTHHOOLLOOGGYY AASS AA MMEETTHHOODD OOFF WWRRIITTIINNGG PPOOEETTIICC HHIISSTTOORRYY –– AA CCOOMMPPAARRAATTIIVVEE AANNAALLYYSSIISS OOFF TTHHEE IIMMPPEERRIIAALL AANNTTHHOOLLOOGGYY OOFF TTAANNGG AANNDD SSOONNGG PPOOEETTRRYY AANNDD ZZEENNGG GGUUOOFFAANN’’SS AANNTTHHOOLLOOGGYY OOFF EEIIGGHHTTEEEENN PPOOEETTSS

QQiiaann HHaaoo NNaannyyaanngg TTeecchhnnoollooggiiccaall UUnniivveerrssiittyy,, SScchhooooll ooff HHuummaanniittiieess,, SSiinnggaappoorree

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 35

简介 Objective : This paper intends to reasonably 介绍:本文以两部清人编纂的诗歌选本——《御 and logically demonstrate that anthology is a method of 选唐宋诗醇》及曾国藩《十八家诗钞》为考察对象,详 writing poetic history by analyzing the differences be- 细的考述了两部选本的成书、选诗旨趣,以及它们对 tween the Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry 唐、宋诗史的书写,在比较当中揭橥两部选本不同的诗 and Guofan’s Anthology of Eighteen Poets. Design. I have been studying classical Chinese 歌史观。《御选唐宋诗醇》在清代官方崇尚雅正的诗学 anthologies under my supervisor's guidance since I 观念影响下,在选、评诗歌方面呈现出较为明显的“尊 was a Master of Arts student. This paper is enhanced 唐抑宋”倾向,对晚唐诗亦多有微词。曾国藩《十八家 and polished from my previous research. 诗钞》对唐、宋诗歌在选材上兼收并蓄、点评上客观公 Article Classification. This paper is descriptive 正,具有一种浑融宏通的诗学观念。 and analytical. 目的:本文希望能借《御选唐宋诗醇》及曾国藩 Practical Application. This paper is enlighten- 《十八家诗钞》的种种不同,有理据、有逻辑地证明选 ing for those who are in favor of classical Chinese po- etry, especially the poetry of the Tang and the Song 本是一种书写诗史的方法。 Dynasties. This paper provides them a perspective to 设计:笔者硕士研究生阶段起,便一直在导师指 understand the development track of classical Chinese 导下对中国古代文学选本进行研究,本文是笔者在博士 poetry by introducing writings of poetic history of 研究生阶段在旧有的研究基础上深化、修改而来。 scholars in the . This paper also shows 文章分类:本文是一篇述论性的文章。 some aspects of the poetics in the Qing Dynasty; it is 实用性:本文对于中国古典诗歌特别是唐宋诗歌 beneficial for the readers to learn academic attitudes 的爱好者有启发价值,本文借前人对诗史的书写为他们 and poetic favors. 提供了一个解读中国古典诗歌发展脉络的视角。本文亦 Originality. This paper is innovative and crea- tive based on existing research. It combines the antho- 呈现了清代诗学风貌的若干侧面,对读者了解清人治学 logical studies and comparative studies, gives a com- 倾向及其诗学旨趣有所裨益。 parison between the Imperial Anthology of Tang and 独创性:本文在前人研究的基础上开拓创新,将 Song Poetry and Zeng Guofan’s Anthology of Eighteen 选本研究与比较研究结合起来,对《御选唐宋诗醇》与 Poets, which is relatively rare in the current academic 曾国藩《十八家诗钞》进行比较,这在学界已有的研究 circle. 中并不多见。 Findings. This paper finds out that by the meth- 发现:本文发现借助选本这种书写诗史的方法, od of using anthology to write poetic history, poetry 清代朝廷与文人士大夫个体选编的诗歌选本呈现出不同 anthologies compiled by scholars from the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty and individual scholars pre- 的审美倾向,有着不同的诗学观念。 sent different aesthetic tendencies as well as poetic 关键词:选本、诗史、清代、朝廷、《御选唐宋 views. 诗醇》、曾国藩、《十八家诗钞》。 Keywords. Anthology, Poetic history, Qing Dyn- Abstract asty, Imperial Court, Imperial Anthology of Tang and Introduction: This paper takes two poetry an- Song Poetry, Zeng Guofan, Anthology of Eighteen Po- thologies compiled by scholars in the Qing Dynasty. ets. Imperial Anthology of Tang, Song Poetry, and Zeng Guofan’s Anthology of Eighteen Poets as the objects of examine, elaborately introduces and discusses the Introduction. Compiling anthology is a tradi- compilation, selections of poetry, and their writings of tional method of literary criticism in China. There is poetic history of the Tang and the Song Dynasties. And the scholar who believed that anthology is more rigid this paper unearths the different views on poetic history and accurate than another widely-used carrier of based on the comparing of the two anthologies. It is literary criticism, the notes on poetry or articles stated in the paper that under the emphasis on Ya- zheng (elegance and uprightness) of the court of the (Shihua 诗话 or Wenhua 文话). Fang Xiaoyue 方孝 Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Anthology of Tang and 岳 (1897—1973) indicated Many Shihua and Song Poetry shows a tendency of “Think highly of Wenhua are usually written casually as words of Tang poetry rather than Song poetry” when conducting chats. For the strict establishment of sizable criticism selections and comments. It also gives relatively low of an individual, it is judged and weighed mostly evaluation to the Late-Tang poetry. As for Zeng when selecting poems or articles. Guofan’s Anthology of Eighteen Poets, it shows a fairer 其实有许多诗话文话,都是前人随便当作 and balanced view when selecting Tang and Song po- etry and gives objective comments to the two times 闲谈而写的,至于严立各人批评的规模, poetry. This anthology carries Zeng Guofan’s compre- 往往都在选录诗文的时候,才锱铢称量出 hensive and coordinated poetic views. 来。(Fang Xiaoyue, 2007)

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 36

Poetry anthology contains the connoisseurship Summing up the above, we can know that the to poetry, the appreciation to poets, and the recogni- poetry anthology compiled by the imperial court and tion of an era's poetic style. It is a comprehensive those collected by individual scholars are the two form of poetic criticism. Accordingly, ancient Chinese main kinds of this kind of literary-critical works in Qing scholar regarded selecting poems as a difficult job. In Dynasty. The compilation of imperial anthologies was (1368—1644), Li Dongyang 李东 阳 very popular in the reigns of Kangxi 康熙 (1662— (1447—1516), the leader of Chaling poetry school 茶 1722) and Qianlong 乾隆 (1735—1796). For instance, 陵诗派 said. Imperial Anthology of Poetry throughout Tang 御定全 Selecting poems is difficult. There must be 唐诗, Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry someone whose intellect can cover a number of po- 御选唐宋诗醇, Imperial Anthology of, Song, Jin, Yuan, ets so that this person can select poets. And those and Ming Poetry 御选宋金元明四朝诗, Pei Wen Zhai who with the intellect covering an era can select po- Imperial Anthology of Object-Chanting Poetry 御定佩 ems of an era. Isn't it difficult for an individual person 文斋咏物诗选 to select limited poets from an era and limited poems , Imperial Anthology of Poetry on Paint- from a poet? ings of Dynasties 御定历代题画诗类 were compiled in these reigns. Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song 诗诚难,必识足以兼诸家者,乃能选诸家; 选 Poetry is one of the high-quality anthologies which 识足以兼一代者,乃能选一代。一代不数人, selected several typical poets of the Tang and the 一人不数篇,而以一人选之,不亦难乎? Song Dynasties. And among the anthologies com- (Li Dongyang, 2009) piled by individual scholars, Zeng Guofan 曾 国藩 Li Dongyang pointed out the hardness of com- (1811—1872)’s Anthology of Eighteen Poets 十八 piling a poetry anthology. From his words, we can 家诗钞 is also a typical work which exquisitely select- also conclude that poetry anthology is a method that ed the most famous poets in Tang and Song Dynasty. the criticizer consciously tries to write a poetic history. Both of these anthologies got good reputations in Qing Dynasty was regarded traditionally as the their times and had considerably influential afterlives. sum up a period of ancient Chinese academics and a And they reflected the writings of poetic history by the period that the poetry anthologies flourished. Since imperial court and individual scholars respectively. classical Chinese poetry reached its peak in both the This paper will examine their selections of poets and Tang and the Song Dynasties, it was quite hard for poetry, explore their writings of poetic history, and the scholars in the Qing Dynasty to transcend their pre- most important is to make a comparative analysis decessors of several centuries ago in poetry compos- between them. ing. However, thousands of years of Chinese poetic history provided them with many materials to read Compilations of the Two Anthologies and select. What’s more, the Qing Dynasty's imperial 1. Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Po- court paid attention to giving authoritative explana- etry and its compilers tions about poetry. Some imperial anthologies (which The Compilation of the Imperial Anthology of are known as 御选本 in Chinese) emerged for this Tang and Song Poetry started in the summer of 15th reason. The imperial court's emphasis on poetry an- year of Qianlong (1750) after Emperor Qianlong thology objectively drove the ethos of compiling poet- (Name: Aisin Gioro Hongli, 1711—1799) issued an ry anthologies within or out of the imperial court. Thus, imperial edict in the same year. A year later, this an- scholars in the Qing Dynasty showed great enthusi- thology made its first appearance to the readers, asm in compiling poetry anthologies. When Zhang when it was published, readers might know that this Zhidong 张之洞 (1837—1909) wrote his renowned anthology is a collective work. After a preface written monograph Questions and Answers on Books 书目答 personally by Emperor Qianlong, the anthology pro- 问, he said: “there are too many anthologies com- vides the authors’ information. The relevant pages firstly say that: piled by recent scholars, I would like to list those The names and duties of all ministers in charge 近人诗文选本太多, without vulgarity and mistakes of collation and inscription are listed on 26, the fifth 举其不俗缪者” (, 2001). month, 16th year of Qianlong (1751) under his Majes- Zhang Zhidong listed 35 works in the “Group of ty’s edict. Poetry Anthologies” (from Guo Maoqian 郭茂倩’s 乾隆十六年五月二十六日奉旨开列校刻诸臣职 Anthology of Yuefu Poetry 乐府诗集 in Song Dynasty 名。(Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, to Liu Zhiyu 刘执玉’s Anthology of Six Poets in Cur- 1751) rent Dynasty 国朝六家诗钞 in Qing Dynasty), among The ministers who took part in the completion which scholars in Qing Dynasty compiled 25. Zhang of this anthology are divided into four groups: “Sur- Zhidong attached more importance to the anthologies of the Qing Dynasty. veillants” 监理; “Proofreaders” 校对; “Collators” 校刊

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 37

and “Supervisors for Printing” (监造). I would like to Scholar” 经筵讲官太子少师协办大学士, and that of introduce them in sequence. Qian Chenqun was “Lecturer to the Emperor, Left Assistant Minister of Ministry of Penalty” 经筵讲官刑 The first group is “Surveillants”. Emperor’s 部左侍郎. To draw a conclusion, both Liang Shizheng Qianlong two younger brothers took this position, and Qian Chenqun were erudite scholars whose intel- namely, Hongzhou, (First Rank) Prince He 和硕和亲 ligence were recognized by the imperial court espe- 王弘昼 and Hongzhan, (First Rank) 和硕 cially Emperor Qianlong. 果 亲王弘瞻 . Emperor Qianlong once recalled his The third group is “Collators”, this group is big- childhood memory with Hongzhou: ger than the former two. Members of this group came I studied and learned together with Princess from two organizations: the Imperial College 国子监 (He) at the childhood, we both composed poetry, an- and the 翰林院. These two organiza- cient-style prose and “ci” poetry. At that time, we at- tions formed academic center in . The five tended our father, His Majesty. We were engaged in members of this group are: (1) Lu Zongkai 陆宗楷, the libraries, immersed in classics and history, without Libationer of the Imperial College15 国子监祭酒; (2) disturbing the outside world and trifles. Chen Hao 陈浩, Reading Attendant of Hanlin Acad- 与王幼同学、同课,皆为诗古文词。当是时,侍奉 余 emy 翰林院侍读; (3) Sun Renlong 孙人龙, Editor of 皇考膝下,优游书府,寝馈于经史文字中,世网尘务 Hanlin Academy 翰林院编修; (4) Zhang Xin 张馨, In- 毫发不以婴其心。(Aisin Gioro Hongli, 1764). spector of Hanlin Academy 翰林院检讨; (5) Xu Tang We can know that Emperor Qianlong not only 徐堂, Trainee of Hanlin Academy 翰林院庶吉士. cherished the time he spent with Hongzhou to have The fourth group “Supervisors for Printing” is a elementary study, but also praised Hongzhou’s en- group of three, and two of them came from Imperial thusiasm in literary reading and composing. As for Household Bureau 内务府. The first is Emperor’s Qi- Hongzhan, The Draft Historical Record of Qing 清史 anlong nephew, Yongzhong 永忠 whose title was the 稿 recorded that: Vice Director of Treasury Department of Imperial Hongzhan is adept at composing poetry and Household Bureau, Doubling the Colonel with Third- “ci” poetry. He ardently loves book collection and his grade Honor for Ten Times 内务府钱粮衙门员外郎兼 storage space can be in comparison with those of 参领佐领加三级记录十次 Mingshan Chamber of Palace Yi. 13 . The second is Zheng 16 弘瞻善诗词,雅好藏书,与怡府明善堂埒。 Sange 郑三格 , whose title was Treasurer of Re- (, etc., 1977). serve Department of Imperial Household Bureau with Above all, Hongzhou and Hongzhan were both First-grade Honor for five times 内务府广储司司库加 talented in literature. They presumably had the com- 一级记录五次. Another member of this group came petency to be the surveillants of the Imperial Antholo- from Wuying Palace 武英殿, he was named Chang gy of Tang and Song Poetry. Ning 常宁 with a title of Supervisor for Printing of The second group is “Proofreaders”. This group Wuying Palace with Second-grade Honor 武英殿监造 also has two members, and they shared the title of 加二级. “Lecturer to the Emperor” 经筵讲官. According to the Above all, we may know Imperial Anthology of Qing System, “lecturer to the Emperor” is a group of Tang and Song Poetry is a combined work by the sixteen, eight for Manchu, the same ethnic group as imperial kinsman, scholars in the academic center the ruler of Qing, and another eight for Han. Every around the court, and those in charge of printing offi- time the emperor wanted to study classics, he would cial documents. We can draw a table to show who appoint four from these them to be the lecturers on took part in the compilation of this anthology. 14 duty. The two members of this group were Liang Shizheng 梁诗正 and Qian Chenqun 钱陈群, the full Persons in Group Title title of Liang Shizheng was “Lecturer to the Emperor, charge Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, Assistant Grand (First Rank) Prince Hongzhou He Surveillants 13 (First Rank) Prince Mingshan Chamber of Palace Yi 怡府明善堂 was a famous ath- Hongzhan enaeum in Qianlong era, it belonged to Hongxiao, the 2nd , Guo the Grandson of Emperor Kangxi. See Qu Mianliang 瞿冕良. Lecturer to the Em- peror, Junior Tutor (1987(6)), Simple Discussion on Book Collection of Palace Yi in Proofreaders Liang Shizheng Qing Dynasty 清代怡府藏书小议, Journal of Library 江苏 of the Crown Prince, Assistant Grand 图书馆学报, pp. 47-49. 14 The formation and the management of lecturers to the emperor above can be found in Lv Zongli 吕宗力. (1994) The Dictionary of 15 The duty of Libationer equals to university president of today. Chinese Bureaucracy of All Dynasties 中国历代官制大辞典, Bei- 16 The edition of Chizaotang Siku Quanshu Huiyao only shows jing Publishing House, Beijing, pp. 574. Zheng Sange’s given name as 三格.

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 38

Scholar astic in learning Confucian classics and followed Wesin 倭仁 (1804—1871), a Manchurian conserva- Lecturer to the Em- tive confucianist as his student. Frederic Wakeman, peror, Left Assistant Qian Chenqun Jr. (1937—2006) called Zeng Guofan “a moralistic Minister of Ministry Confucian statesman” (Wakeman, Jr, 1975). It must of Penalty be an excellent description of Zeng Guofan as an Libationer of the official in the capital. Lu Zongkai Imperial College Things changed when the happened and developed rapidly. At that time, Zeng Reading Attendant Chen Hao Guofan had left Beijing and stayed in his hometown of Hanlin Academy for the mourning for his mother’s death. was greatly influenced and gradually became a main bat- Collators Editor of Hanlin Sun Renlong Academy tleground of the rebellion. Zeng Guofan felt an obli- gation to save his hometown, his mother country, Inspector of Hanlin the traditional culture and ideology he was con- Zhang Xin Academy vinced to. Because the Taiping Army hoisted the Trainee of Hanlin ensign of overthrowing and adopted a Xu Tang Academy witchcraft-involved Christianity created by their Vice Director of leader 洪秀全 (1814—1964). It is a Treasury Depart- little paradoxical that Zeng Guofan then chose to be ment of Imperial a general and gradually became the mainstay of the Yongzhong Household Bureau, Qing court to resist Taiping rebellion. At the same Doubling the Colonel time, he did not have even a tiny experience in mili- with Third-grade Honor for Ten Times tary affairs before. Zeng Guofan succeeded in the Treasurer of Re- magnificent feat and he was appointed as several Supervisors for serve Department of important governors of different area of China, such Printing Imperial Household Zheng Sange as Governor of Liangjiang 两江总督, whose govern- Bureau with First- ing area was three provinces, Jiangsu, , and grade Honor for five times . These areas were relatively rich area of Supervisor for Print- China at that time and they suffered from the Tai- ing of Wuying Pal- ping rebellion; and also Governor of Zhili 直隶总督, Chang Ning ace with Second- who had a significant duty to surround and protect grade Honor Beijing. Zeng Guofan died when he reoccupied the Table I: Compilers of the Imperial Anthology post of Governor of Liangjiang. After his death, his of Tang and Song Poetry students as well as former subordinates Li Han-

zhang 李瀚章 (1821—1899), 李鸿章 2. The Zeng Guofan’s official, literary life (1823—1901), who were brothers and both served and his Anthology of Eighteen Poets as high ranking officials in Late-Qing Period, com- Zeng Guofan (1811—1872), a famous 曾文正公全 statesman and literate in Late-Qing period, had a piled Full Anthology of Mr. Zeng Guofan good reputation during his lifetime and earned an 集. Anthology of Eighteen Poets is one of the works illustrious afterlife until nowadays. Zeng Guofan in this Full Anthology. came from Hunan, a Southern province of China. Zeng Guofan planned to compile a poetry an- Hunan was the center statecraft 经世致用 in Qing thology in the twelfth year he served in Beijing. In Dynasty. Zeng Guofan’s local predecessor Wang the summer, 1851, he wrote in his diary: For the literary learning, I take two books as Fuzhi 王 夫之 (1619—1692) and Wei Yuan 魏源 my job, they are Mr. Zeng’s Reading Anthology of (1794—1857) were the representatives of this ideol- Ancient-Style Prose and Mr. Zeng’s Reading An- ogy. The ethos also influenced zeng Guofan and he thology of Poetry. They haven’t been compiled, but I presented statecraft in Anthology of Eighteen Poets, have well thought-out frame of mind. which I will discuss later in this paper. Zeng Guofan 词章之学,吾之从事者二书焉,曰曾氏读古文 got a title of “equivalent ” 同进士出身 after he 钞与曾氏读诗钞二书。尚未纂集成帙,然胸中 attended the Palace Examination, the highest level of Chinese imperial examination (Keju 科举). Then 已有成竹矣。(Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995) he entered Hanlin Academy (just as some of the It is obvious at that time, Zeng Guofan haven’t compilers of Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry did) named the anthology with “eighteen poets”. A year as a beginning of his thirteen-year career in Beijing. later, Zeng Guofan pointed out that the anthology While Zeng Guofan was in Beijing, he was enthusi- contains eighteen poets:

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 39

Today I thought about the poetry, and select- Ancient-style Prose and my Anthology of Eighteen ed eighteen poets. I should select a hundred an- Poets these four works. There are no more than cient-style prose and put them on the table, then twenty works totally……Jize, if you could continue to carefully study them. So I wrote: fourteen categories complete my ambition, then take the Four Books for politics, fifteen books for study, selected a hun- and Five Classics, together with another eight which dred prose, and eighteen poets. I prefer to read it carefully and think about, make a 是日思诗,既选十八家矣!古文当选百篇,钞 few notes and to write down what you get, and mark 置案头,以为揣摩。因自为之记曰:“为政十四 doubts about it. Thus I will be gratified and my 门,为学十五书,钞文一百首,钞诗十八 dream will be nice. I do not have any demand from you beyond this 家。”(Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995) 余于《四书》、《五经》之外,最好《史 When Zeng Guofan wrote this diary, he was still in Beijing and hosting the position of Right As- 记》、《汉书》、《庄子》、《韩文》四种, 好之十余年,惜不能熟读精考。又好《通 sistant Minister of Ministry of Rites 礼 部 右 侍 郎 . 鉴》、《文选》及姚惜抱所选《古文辞类 About half year later in the summer, Zeng Guofan 纂》、余所选《十八家诗钞》四种,共不过十 went back to Hunan to mourn for his mother as I in- dicated above. We may know that after serving in 余种……泽儿若能成吾之志,将《四书》、 Beijing for more than ten years, he determined to 《五经》及余之所好八种一一熟读而深思之, compile an anthology to show his talent in poetic 略作札记,以志所得,以著所疑,则余欢快欣 criticism. 慰,夜得甘寝,此外别无所求矣。(Li Han- At the end of the year that Zeng Guofan came zhang, etc., 1995). back to Hunan, the imperial court allowed him to Among all the reading materials provided to give up the filial piety and commence training a local , only Anthology of Eighteen Poets was army (later developed as 湘军) resist compiled by Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan attached the Taiping Rebellion [1]. Although the battles high importance to this poetry anthology. caused a lot of distress during the warfare, Zeng After Zeng Guofan finished the draft, he sup- Guofan still maintained the routine of reading and posed to make a few amendments to the anthology. study. The compilation of Anthology of Eighteen Po- In the 1862, Zeng Guofan wrote in his diary: ets kept on going in this period. From the parental I have finished selecting eighteen poets’ po- instructions he sent to his elder son Zeng Jize ems. I considered one or two as support, and the 曾纪泽 (1839—1890), we can know that no later rest — reference. Perhaps I had no unnecessary than the summer of 1858, Zeng Guofan had finished emotions. However, as I get older, I can only sing the selection of old-style poetry in his anthology: (these verses) for my amusement, but I cannot All the time composing of poetry, you should compare these ancient predecessors. pay more attention to the tone and rhyme. The nine 余既钞封十八家诗……以一、二家为主,而他 poets of five-characters old-style poetry and six po- 家则参观互证,庶几用志不纷。然老境侵寻, ets of seven-characters old-style poetry that I se- 亦只能长吟以自娱,不能抗手以入古矣。(Li lected, all composed poetry of sonorous tone and Hanzhang, etc., 1995) rhyme which made readers never get tired. When Zeng Guofan wrote this piece of diary, 凡作诗,最宜讲求声调。余所选抄五古九家、 he was still busy in the warfare in Anhui. We may 七古六家,声调皆极铿锵,耐人百读不厌。(Li know that Zeng Guofan as a general balanced mili- Hanzhang, etc., 1995) tary and literary life, and the Anthology of Eighteen Up to 1859, a draft of Anthology of Eighteen Poets was his high-quality result. Poets came into being. Zeng Guofan gave his son Selected Poems of the Tang and the Song another parental instruction to encourage wide read- Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry ing: contains poems from the Tang and the Song Dynas- Besides the Four Books and Five Classics, ty's six poets. There are six poets: Li Bai 李白, that I like the most: Grand Scribe's Records, Book of Du Fu 杜甫, Bai Juyi 白居易, Han Yu 韩愈, Su Han, Zhuangzi, and Prose of Hanyu. They have Shi 苏轼, Lu You 陆游. Zeng Guofan’s Anthology been my favourites for more than ten years and I of Eighteen Poets, as its name implies, selected regret that could not peruse and examine them care- eighteen poets from a period about a thousand fully. I also love Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in years between Wei 魏 (220—266) and Jin 金 Government, Selections of Refined Literature as 曹植 阮籍 well as Mr. Yao Xibao17’s Categorized Anthology of (1115—1234), they are Cao Zhi , Ruan , Tao Qian 陶潜, Xie Lingyun 谢灵运, Bao Zhao 鲍照, 17 Yao Nai 姚鼐, scholar and litterateur in Qianlong and Jiaqing Xie Tiao 谢朓, Wang Wei 王维, Meng Haoran 孟浩然, period and one of the founder of Tongcheng School 桐城派. Yao Nai’s study room was named Chamber of Xibao 惜抱轩, therefore Yao Nai was granted a name of Yao Xibao.

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 40

Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Han Yu, Li Shangyin 李商隐, peaks of classical Chinese poetry raised many poets. Du Mu, 杜牧, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian 黄庭坚, Lu You, For example, let us take two sizable anthologies in Yuan Haowen 元好问 [1]. Eleven of these poets the Qing Dynasty: Full Anthology of the Tang Poetry from Wang Wei to Lu You, are the Tang or the Song 全唐诗 contains more than two thousand and two poets. Anthology of Eighteen poets selects 6599 hundred poets, and Anthology of the Song Poetry 宋 poems totally, and there are 5872 of the Tang and 诗钞 is a carrier of eighty-four poets. But, Imperial the Song, it takes up about 89% of the anthology’s Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry and Anthology quantity. Zeng Guofan valued mostly the Tang and of Eighteen Poets selected only six and eleven po- the Song poetry. Both anthologies selected poems ets. They were inclined to select those top poets from Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Han Yu, Su Shi and Lu carefully. Emperor Qianlong said in the preface of You as we can see. the Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry: More about their choice. Mo Lifeng 莫砺锋 “These six poets mostly represent the quintessence from University counted the numbers of po- of the two dynasties “二代风华,此六家为最” (the ems of each poet in his paper The Compiling Pur- Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, 1751). pose and poetic Thinking of Choice Poetry of the Moreover, a general note of the Tang Imperial An- Tang and the Song 论《唐宋诗醇》的编选宗旨与诗 thology and the Song Poetry complemented Emper- 学思想18. As for Anthology of Eighteen Poets, Zeng or’s Qianlong words: Guofan indicated the number of poems he selected There were countless people in the Tang and on the front page. For comparison, I put the data the Song dynasties who were famous for writing po- together in the table below. etry. There were at least dozens of well-known po- ets among them. Now we have chosen only six to Poet Imperial An- Anthology of say that only they can be called masters. thology of Tang Eighteen Poets 唐宋人以诗鸣者,指不胜屈,其卓然名家者, and Song Poet- 犹不减数十人,兹独取六家者,谓惟此足称大 ry 家也。(Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Tang Dynasty Poetry, 1751). Wang Wei N. A 104 No matter Emperor Qianlong or the writer of a Meng Haoran N. A 138 general notice, they were all confident that the Impe- Li Bai 375 896 rial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry is a defini- Du Fu 722 1265 tive and authoritative work. Bai Juyi 363 114 Zeng Guofan was talking about the poets he Han Yu 103 220 loved in his diary, parental instructions, and family Li Shangyin N. A 117 letters. Zeng Guofan’s parental instructions to his Du Mu N. A 55 son Zeng Jize were quoted in the preceding part to Song Dynasty show his satisfaction with the old-style poems in An- Su Shi 541 1306 thology of Eighteen Poets. Now this paper is going Huang Tingjian N. A 451 to provide more evidence that shows Zeng Guofan’s Lu You 561 1206 favor of the poets he selected. Total 2665 5872 I learned five-characters and seven-characters Table II: Selections of the Imperial Anthology old-style poetry from Du Fu and Han Yu, I was read- of Tang and Song Poetry and Zeng Guofan’s An- ing every word of them carefully. Besides, I learned thology of Eighteen Poets old-style poetry from Su Shi and Huang Tingjian as well as metrical poetry from Li Shangyin. I was read- From Table II, we can see that the compilers ing every word. of the Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry 吾于五七古学杜、韩,五七律学杜,此二家无 and Zeng Guofan had similar poetic views when 一字不细看。外此则古诗学苏、黄,律诗学义山,此 conducting poems selection. They all agreed that the great masters of the Tang and the Song Dynas- 三家亦无一字不看。(Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995). ties were the highest achievements in poetry at the As for Broadening the mind, enlarging the time. The Tang and the Song dynasties as the two courage, and deeply seeking the changing of every- thing, only Li Bai, Du Fu, Han Yu, Bai Juyi of Tang, and Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Lu You, and Yuan 18 Mo Lifeng 莫砺锋, (2002) “The Compiling Purpose and poetic Haowen of Song and Jin could tell the marvelous Thinking of Choice Poetry of Tang and Song”, Journal of Nanjing spectacle of the world throughout history. University (Philosophy, Humanities and Social Sciences), vol.39, 至于开拓心胸,扩充气魄,穷极变态,则非唐 No.2, pp132-141. Please note that Prof. Mo provided his translation of the anthology in his paper, what he talked about is just the an- 之李杜韩白、宋金之苏黄陆元八家不足以尽天下古今 thology which I translated as the Imperial Anthology of Tang and 之奇观。(Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995) Song Poetry.

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 41

I was reading Tao Qian and Xie Tiao especial- perial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, there is a ly for five-characters old-style poetry, Han Yu and little preface before selecting Su Shi’s poetry. Su Shi for seven-characters, Du Fu for five- In the late Tang and Five Dynasties after Du characters metrical poetry of eight lines, Huang Fu and Han Yu, poetry was fickle and weak, dying Tingjian for seven-characters metrical poetry of eight from day to day. lines, Lu You for seven-characters-metrical poetry of In the early song by Yang Yi, Liu Yun, Qian four lines. Weiyang and the others wrters of Xikun-style poetry, 五古拟专读陶潜谢脁两家;七古拟专读韩愈苏 just followed the bad footsteps of Wen Tingyun and 轼两家;五律专读杜甫;七律专读黄庭坚;七绝专读 Li Shangyin. Su Shuqing distinguished with a strong 陆游。(Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995) and energetic style from the temporary one. Mei We can easily find that the poets Zeng Guofan Yaochen maintained a high and light style. These mentioned in his diary, parental instructions, and two poets aspired to the antique style, but their poet- family letters all appeared in Eighteen Poets' An- ry is not flexible in spirit. They could not be men- thology. tioned in the same breath as Du Fu and Han Yu. Su Interestingly, the compilers of the Imperial An- Shi must have been unique and could defeat the thology of Eighteen Poets and Zeng Guofan shared poets of many dynasties. similar views when commenting on some of the 诗自杜、韩以后,唐季五代纤佻薄弱,日即沦 master poets. For example, Du Fu, the commenting 胥。宋初杨亿、刘筠、钱惟演之徒,崇尚昆体,只是 words in two anthologies of Du Fu’s March to the 温李后尘。嗣是苏舜卿以豪放自异,梅尧臣以高淡为 North 北征, a long piece of five-characters old-style 宗。虽志於古矣,而神明变化之功少,未有能骖驾杜 poem, are quite similar. The comment of the Imperi- 韩。卓然自成一家而雄视百代者,必也其苏轼乎? al Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry said: “love (Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, 1751). the temporary court [1], and hope to assist the re- This paragraph summarized the development naissance of the country, the morality and loyalty of the poetry from Middle-Tang when Han Yu was in emerged. the Middle-Song when Su Shi turned to a conspicu- “恋行在,望匡复言,有伦脊忠爱见矣” (Im- ous master. The compilers despised poets in Early- perial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, 1751). Song who followed the Late-Tang style. From the Zeng Guofan commented after the last sen- word “follow the bad footsteps of Wen Tingyun and tence of March to the North: “the above contents Li Shangyin”, we know that the compilers thought traced back and praised (Emperor’s Suzong) exploit poorly of Li Shangyin. of squashing the rebellion, and express hope of Zeng Guofan's view of Li Shangyin was differ- good-governance “以上追颂戡乱之功,而极抒望治 ent from that of the imperial court members. He was 之怀.” (Zeng Guofan, 2015) We can find that both very fond of reading poetry by Li Shangun. In Zeng of the comments unearthed Du Fu’s figure as a loy- Guofan's book "Quique Camera Reading Records" alty officer. 求 阙 斋 读书 录, Li Shangun's poetry anthology is one of the significant works. Zeng Guofan also wrote Different Writings of Poetic History a poem entitled "Reading Li Shangin's Poetry An- Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry thology," which contains the following line: "I regret and Anthology of Eighteen Poets have similar char- that after Huang Tingjian's death, no one could un- acters in selections and poetic views. But they are derstand Li Shang' in's emotions “太息涪翁去,无 relatively different from each other, especially the 人会此情” (Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995) Zeng Guofan writing of poetic history in ancient China. There is pointed out that Huang Tingjian was a fan of Li little academic literature that deals with these two Shanyin, but after his passing, Li Shanyin's afterlife anthologies and provides a comparative analysis. is crumbling. It has been clear that Zeng Guofan These differences will be clarified below. himself was another Li Shangun fan in history. This paper sheds light on writer Du Mu. Com- 1. Different views on Late-Tang Poetry— pilers of the Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Despise and Praise Poetry also disliked Du Mu, a coetaneous poet with There is no poet of the Late-Tang period in the Li Shangyin. The little preface before the selection of Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry. But Bai Juyi’s poetry gives an unkind comment to Du Mu: Zeng Guofan included two Late-Tang poets, into Du Mu derided that poetry (of Bai Juyi) was Anthology of Eighteen Poets: Li Shangyin and Du flirty and sluttish, which cannot be composed of sol- Mu. This is the main distinction between these two emn and elegant. But between Bai Juyi and Du Mu, anthologies. After a thorough reading, we may find whose poetry is more solemn and elegant? Du Mu’s that compilers from the imperial court mentioned Li poetry is the flirtiest and sluttish, how could he re- Shangyin and Du Mu, however, these two poets be- criminate Bai Juyi? came “fellow sufferers” of severing criticism. In Im-

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 42

而杜牧讥其纤艳淫媟,非庄人雅士所为,夫居 Dynasty for more than three hundred pieces. Con- 易之庄雅孰于牧?牧诗乃纤艳淫媟之尤者,而反唇以 sidering there are only three poets of the Song Dyn- 訾居易乎?(Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song asty in the anthology, notably less than poets of the Poetry, 1751). Tang Dynasty, we can conclude that Zeng Guofan Members of the imperial court believed that cherishes the value of the Song Dynasty's poetry lot. Du Mu had no right to say that Bai Ju's poetry was Concerning Zeng Guofan, members of the im- not serious. There is opposite point of view: Zeng perial court did not appreciate the poetry of the Song Guofan drew attention to Du Mu's flirtatious and de- Dynasty. praved poem. For example, he commented on the The preface, written by Emperor Qianlong, started so: 4th poem "Missed Trip" in Zhongling 怀 钟 陵 旧游 Song Dynasty prose was equally comparable as "Play with a Geisha at Night" (Zeng Guofan, to the Tang Dynasty prose. But poetry could not 2015), which showed the frivolous aspect of Du Mu's compare with the poetry of the Tang Dynasty. Until character. they can be compared, there must be a choice. The difference between the two anthologies when 宋之文足可以匹唐,而诗实不足以匹唐也,既 facing Late-Tang poetry due to the extent they con- cern about the concept of elegance and uprightness 不足以匹,而必为是选者。(Imperial Anthology of 雅正, which was an important term of poetic criticism Tang and Song Poetry, 1751) in ancient China. The preface written by Emperor As we know, the members kept thinking that Qianlong was lighting readers the purpose of the the Song Dynasty's poetry was inferior to the po- compilation of the anthology: “Just to show the gen- etry of the Tang Dynasty. They discarded Huang eral features (of poetry) of one or two dynasties, and Tingjian, whose poetry was praised by Zeng (it should be) a standard of elegant poetry for centu- Guofan because of containing a lot of roughness ries” “且以见一、二代盛衰之大凡,千秋风雅之正则 and lacking deepness and vigorousness. Even for 也” (Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, Su Shi and Lu You, the compilers always judged 1751). However, Zeng Guofan paid more attention their poetry by whether they could meet the crite- to the interest of poetry. He once said that to his son: rion of the Tang Dynasty's poetry. For instance, “There are two kinds of interests of poetry, one is the comment of the 10th poem of Su Shi’s Ten humorous and odd interest, and the other is that of Poems of Jingzhou 荆州十首 said: “Contemplating leisure “凡诗文趣味,约有二种:一曰诙诡之趣,一 the old monument is a common emotion of medi- 曰闲适之趣” (Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995). From the tators on the past, (this poem) was stirring and selections of Anthology of Eighteen Poets, we could fervent, as the satisfied words of wise poets of know that Zeng Guofan merged his poetic view on Tang Dynasty “俯仰陈迹,怀古者所同,悲壮慷 interest into the anthology. 慨 ,则唐贤 得意笔也” (Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, 1751). As for Lu You, his 2. Different views on song poetry - count Return to Wuyunmen at night was commented as the steps of Tang poetry and take them as “Outstanding for high charms, (if) it was put into patterns the anthologies of poets of Tang Dynasty, no one Both the Imperial Tang and Song Poetry An- “以高韵胜,置唐人集中,不复可 thology and the Eighteen Poetry Anthology selected can identify it the poetry of the Tang and Song Dynasty. But 辨” (Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry, members of the imperial court and Zeng Guofan had 1751). Mo Lifeng 莫砺锋 pointed out that: different views on Song Dynasty poetry. Zeng Every masterpiece of Su Shi and Lu You are Guofan told his younger brothers, "I can write poetry, usually commented as “similar to poetry of Tang” or but I regret that currently there is no one like Han Yu, “not inferior to the poetry of Tang”. It seems that Su Shi, Huang Tingjian who can say crazy words they were praising this poetry of the Song Dynasty, with me." but they follow the standard of the Tang Dynasty's 余于诗亦有功夫,恨当世无韩昌黎及苏黄一辈 poetry to evaluate those of the Song Dynasty. There 人可与吾发狂言者. (Li Hanzhang, etc., 1995) was an implication saying poetry can be called mas- Zeng Guofan was also famous for his follow- terpieces of the Song Dynasty because they are ing to Huang Tingjian’s patterns. Qian Zhonglian similar to the Tang Dynasty's poetry, those which were distinct from the poetry of the Tang Dynasty 钱仲联 pointed out that (Zeng Guofan) had deep had nothing praiseworthy. conjunction with Huang Tingjian, his words of poetry 只要是苏陆诗中的佳作,就往往评之曰“似 predominantly follow those of Huang Tingjian 然于山 唐”,或“不逊唐”,表面上似乎是赞扬这些 谷尤有深契,诗字多宗之 (Zhang Yinpeng, 2002). In 宋诗,事实上却正是以唐诗的标准来衡量宋 the Anthology of Eighteen Poets, the number of the Song Dynasty's poetry surpass those of the Tang 诗,言下之意是宋诗之佳者即在于它们像唐诗,

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies

ISSUE 1, APRIL 2020 43

而那些不像唐诗的宋诗就无足称道了。 (Mo Aisin Gioro Hongli (1764), The First Volume of Imperial Lifeng, 2002) Articles 御制文初集, edition of Qinding Siku It can be easily found even if both anthologies Quanshu 钦定四库全书 selected poetry of the two peaks of Chinese poetic Zhao, Erxun 赵尔巽, etc. (1977), The Draft Historical history, but they had their preferences to the poetry of Record of Qing 清史稿, Zhonghua Book Com- the Tang or Song Dynasties. These made the two pany, Beijing, 14963 p. anthologies showed different writings of poetic history. Frederic Wakeman, Jr. (1975), The Fall of Imperial This paper will then comb out the reasons for China, the Free Press, New York, 276 p. the different writings about the poetry of the Song Li, Hanzhang 李瀚章, etc. (1995), Full Anthology of Mr. Dynasty, especially why the imperial court did not Zeng Guofan. Jilin People’s Press, Changchun, value the poetry of the Song Dynasty so much. This 5588 p. may due to the inheritance of the poetic view of the Zeng, Guofan 曾国藩 (2015), Anthology of Eighteen imperial court in the Qing Dynasty. When Emperor Poets, Yuelu Press, , 1397 p. Qianlong’s grandfather Emperor Kangxi reigned, Zhang, Yinpeng 张寅彭. (2002), Series Collection of scholars of the imperial court led the compilation of Shihua in Minguo Period 民国诗话丛编 Vol6, the Imperial Anthology of Poetry Throughout Tang. Shanghai Bookstore Publishing House, Shang- The compilers of this anthology admired the Tang hai, 673 p. Dynasty's poetry much more than those of the Song Mo, Lifeng 莫砺锋 (2002), “The Compiling Purpose and Dynasty. The preface written by Emperor Kangxi poetic Thinking of Choice Poetry of the Tang starts with a sentence: and the Song”, Journal of Nanjing University When it came to Tang Dynasty, all poetry (Philosophy, Humanities and Social Sciences), styles already existed, so as the norms of them. So Vol. 39, No.2, pp. 132—141. those who talk about poetry all take the poetry of Imperial Anthology of Poetry throughout Tang (1707), Tang as a standard. edition of Chizaotang Siku Quanshu Huiyao 摛藻 诗至唐而众体悉备,亦诸法毕该,故称诗者, 堂四库全书荟要 必 视 唐 人 为 标 准 。 (Imperial Anthology of Poetry throughout Tang, 1707). Compilers of the Imperial Anthology of Poetry Throughout Tang declared that they took a stand for the value and importance of poetry of the Tang Dynasty in the poetic history. As the beloved grand- son and a devout political follower of Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Qianlong learned and kept on ad- vocating the same poetic views and expressed them in poetic history writings. We can conclude that praising the Tang Dynasty's poetry was a universal view within the imperial court in the early to middle Qing period.

References Fang, Xiaoyue 方孝岳 (2007), Chinese Literary Criti- cism · Introduction of Chinese Prose, SDX Joint Publishing Company, Beijing, 366 p. Li, Dongyang 李东阳, annotated by Li Qingli 李庆立. (2009), Annotation on Huailutang Shihua, Peo- ple's Literature Publishing House, Beijing, 424 p. Zhang, Zhidong 张之洞, added and corrected by Fan Xizeng 范希曾 (2001), Additions and Corrections on Questions and Answers on Books, Shanghai Classics Publishing House, Shanghai, 271 p. Imperial Anthology of Tang and Song Poetry. (1751), edition of Chizaotang Siku Quanshu Huiyao 摛藻 堂四库全书荟要

ISSN: 2709-149X (print) Ukrainian Journal of Sinology Studies