Zhang Lei And Poetry

The literature of "the four scholars of the Su's school" is an important part of the "Yuan-you Style". As one of "the four scholars of the Su's school", Zhang Lei had a high level of accomplishments in poetry, article, handwriting and painting. When he was young, he learned from Su Zhe, and later he became a student of Su Shi, who greatly influenced him. He was not only free and easy but also veracious. He had a wide scope of social intercourse. He attached importance to affection instead of fame and gain. Since he not only had unique opinions on politics, culture, and the Li Xue of the North Song dynasty, but also expressed his own true feelings. Thus he had formed his own theory of poetry that starts with honesty and that is simple, actual and clear. Zhang Lei's poems, most of which were full of his sense of politics and his normal attitude ,and which reflected people's sufferings or gave voice to his own sensation, mirrored the social reality and his inner world duly, factually, and deeply. After three periods, namely, county officer, capital promotion, and Huang-Zhou demotion, Zhang Lei's style of simplicity and precision gradually came into being. Finally, he became a quite important and special writer in his times.