Wang Ya Poetry Study

Wang Ya (about 765-835) had worked for 6 dynasties, and had been high official all along. He spanned the whole period of Middle Tang Dynasty, and was a man who went through and participated in the politics, economy and culture of Middle Tang Dynasty. In the year of 729 Wang Ya, together with the famous poet-Han Yu, became a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations. Then followed Lu Zhi and Liang Su, he became an active man who responded, pushed and participated"The Movement of Ancient Prose". At the beginning of Yuan He, being the"Han Lin Xue Shi", he won the trust and favoritism from Xian Zong. During the 3 years of demotion, he attached great importance to education and commended the achievement of Fang Guan, which were praised by the local people. When being Han Lin Xue Shi again, Wang Ya got along well with Linhu Chun and Zhang Zhongsu. They often amused with each other through poem composing and had"Yuan He San Ren Ji"come down. Being the prime minister, he was loyal to his country and always gave his suggestions bravely. During the Mu Zong Dynasty, because the minority of Tu Fan invaded our border, he asked and suggested to the Emperor to defeat the enemy. In 821 Yuzhen rebelled again, the way of army manoeuvre showed his talent in military affairs. During the Wen Zong Period, being the Tai Chang Qin, he composed"Yun Shao Yue"which showed his music culture. Being the Yan Tie Shi (the official in charge of salt and iron), he increased the income for the country, centred the power of economy. He formulated"Li"and"Ling"to limit the power of eunuches and inside ministers. Being the prime minister again, he carried on the policy of"exempting the tax of alcohol"which reduced the burden of common people, but being killed by eunuchs during the"Gan Lu Zhi Bian".Being called"The Giant Hand of Middle Tang Dynasty", 62 poems that came down from him has various themes and features. His"Frontier Fortress Poems"which are characteristic of warrior feature and go-aheadism is different from the style in Middle Tang Dynasty which is characteristic of decadence and sorrow. And a fresh feeling was given to the parnassus of Middle Tang Dynasty with sorrow and loneliness as the keynotes. Most of his"Gui Yuan Poems"were euphemistic, concise and comprehensive, which showed the characters of Wang Ya's poets. Especially, the he created"Gong Ci"of 30 connecting poems with 7 words in each line, which were the basis of 5 poems written by Gu Kuang, and establish the ground for Wang Jian's Gong Ci with over one hundred poems. It could be said that he was the man who connected the preceding and the following in inditing Gong Ci with connecting poems, and made great contribution to the development of Gong Ci. Wang Ya always communicated with famous poets such as Han Yu and Liu Yuxi on poems.Wang Ya was loyal to his country, asking for transform all his life. Although he had some bad evaluation in his old age, he had literary talent and was famous for his poems. Actually in Middle Tang Dynasty he was a man who was worthy of researching in the history of politics and literature.