Abstract: The appearance of the numerous poetry formats in the late Tang and Five Dynasties is the result of Confucian consciousness and the popularity of poetry as well. Poetry, interwoven with imperial examination-oriented education, becomes an important way to realize the Confucian scholars' self-cultivation. Therefore, the form of "industrious and bitter versification" reflects those Confucians' inner world. Meanwhile, the metaphorical satire embedded in Mao Shi Zheng Yi is developed into such new concepts as bixing or "image analogy and evocation", and "inner and outer meaning", which influences the valuation of "conception" and the metaphorical and imagistic thinking of late Tang poetry, and, as a result, promotes the status of Lüshi, or metrical poetry both in essence and artistic style.

Key words: poem format, Confucian, industrious and bitter versification, Mao Shi Zheng Yi, metaphorical satire, the poetic construction of Lüshi