Abstract:

Two main conceptualizations of the essence of poetry before the Tang dynasty are yanzhi, expressing aspirations, and yuanqing, conveying emotions. Tang poets inherited and developed both traditions, and their poetry reflected the conceptualizations in different ways during different periods. Although Tang Emperor Taizong wrote poems in the mode of expressing aspirations and ordered officials to follow suit, a majority of poets believed in the mode of conveying emotions. During the reigns of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian, the court considered conveying emotions as the aim of poetry, while Luo Binwang and Wang Bo followed both modes of yuanqing and yanzhi and slightly inclined to the latter. Tracing back to ancient traditions, Chen Zi'ang advocated the mode of yanzhi and had significant influence on his contemporaries. During the High Tang, both the court and poets considered poetry as a means to express aspirations. Not only did the link poetry at the court of Emperor Xuanzong have the intention of education, the poetry of Li Bai and Du Fu also had the characteristics of yanzhi.

Key words: ontology, yanzhi(expressing aspirations), yuanqing(conveying emotions), the Early and High Tang, poetic preface, link poetry