Ng Ka-century Poetry Studies

Wu Jiaji, the famous poet and adherent in late Ming and early Qing Dynasty, wrote a number of poems reflecting the social reality of that time with noble character and ups and downs in his life at the turn of the dynasty. His poetry has the flavor of indifference to fame and wealth reflected in Tao Yuanming's works and gloom in Du Fu's. This paper attempts to make a study on Wu Jiaji from the perspective of his literature creation, especially his poetry.The whole paper is divided into four chapters.Chapter One relates Wu Jiaji's life story and his works. He lived in the change from Ming to Qing Dynasty with the whole society unrest and people displaced. The turbulent social background, humble origins and faithful characters all doomed many of the ups and downs of his rough life. The destitution as well as bumpy experiences didn't obliterate the noble character in him. In the face of adversity, he stuck more to his constancy and faithfulness, never aligned with the ruling class, and spent the whole of his life writing the collection of poetry On Humble Carriage , which reflected the social reality. Because of all kinds of twists and turns, much wear and tear he experienced under the severe social condition, his poems contained strong depression and hate as well as some anti-Qing ideas, thus were classified banned book by Grand Council in 1788.Chapter Two discusses Wu Jiaji's pastoral poems. At the tern of Ming and Qing Dynasties, to abide by the concept of the feudal Confucian orthodoxy"a minister never serves two emperors", Wu Jiaji chose seclusion, traveling with like-minded friends and creating a lot of pastoral poems on the view of the beautiful landscapes and the uneventful rural life. Wu Jiaji's pastoral poems can be divided into three areas, namely, water and beautiful scenery, quiet family life and elegant friendship. The poetry reproduces Wu Jiaji's uneventful and quiet life, expressing his sincere feelings to his family and friends. Wu Jiaji's pastoral poems are characterized by plain natural style and clear description armed with spoken words easily understood to express his true feelings.Chapter Three deals with Wu Jiaji's poems related to the adherents of Ming Dynasty. The change from Ming to Qing Dynasty was different from the previous-generation replacement in that it was the foreigners overseas invaded the Han nationality, the barbarism challenged the civilization, which were undoubtedly a heavy blow for those who were deeply influenced by Confucian culture with a profound concept of"anti-barbarian". They adhered to the loyalty concept of"a minister never serves two emperors", either directly fighting against the Qing Dynasty, or choosing seclusion, or escaping in the Zen. Therefore, there emerged so many adherents of Ming Dynasty in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty, they making friends with each other and chiming together to express their regret and hate over their perished country. Wu Jiaji also described many adherent friends in his poems, including those resistances, the hermits, the scholastic and eunuch officials, and even some adherents not recorded in the history books. Wu Jiaji fully revealed the adherents'sorrow and hate over the lost home and country. Wu Jiaji's poems on adherents of the Ming Dynasty can be divided into three aspects, namely, hating war and cherishing the memory of heroes, describing landscape to express feelings, veiling mind to soothe souls. In addition there appeared many adherents imagery in his poems, such as rangers, righteous patriots, as well as people with noble character. The poetry can be regarded as a real reduction of Wu Jiaji's mind with his longing and hate over the lost country.Chapter Four is about the influence of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and other thoughts on Wu Jiaji. Wu Jiaji's idea is no single, but a synthesis of contradictions. Affected by Taizhou School, Wu Jiaji's poetry formed a distinct plain style, with plain language highlighting the local color, realistic approach reflecting the hardships of the people, portraying people's life in a casual way. Confucianism, a feudal orthodox, made great influence on Wu Ji, which was fully embodied in his good-nature, kindness, filial piety and unity with his brothers and sisters. In addition, Wu Jiaji was also affected by Moism, Taoism, Buddhism and other thoughts.