Bai's Jiangnan Complex

From the perspective of the relationship between the regional culture and his literary works, this article focuses on the Bai Juyi's "southern complex", trying to reproduce the process of effect and influence of the unique natural and cultural environments south to the Yangtze River on Bai's ideology, poetry writing and life style.Bai's "southern complex" ran through his whole life. As a juvenile, due to the political turbulence, Bai roved to the south of the Yangtze and started his "southern complex". In his youth, Bai passed the provincial-level civil service examination successfully in Xuanzhou, which brought him great fame and became a significant turning point of entering a political career. In the later years, Bai acted as the city governor in Hangzhou and Suzhou successively. He did not only actualize his early aspiration but also realized his spiritual pursuit and personal value in the leisureful life amid the picturesque landscape far away from dispute. After leaving the southern area, Bai still missed it a lot and often visited the place in his dreams.Bai's "southern complex" is fully reflected in a large number of his creative works of poetry concentrating on the south of the Yangtze. This paper is going to present the basic spirituality of this complex from four aspects, i.e. his praise of the gorgeous landscape of the West Lake, the poems created at the gatherings with his friends and colleagues, the depictions of the local customs and culture as well as the affectionate recollection of his easy and happy life there. Meanwhile, this article attempts to further reveal the more essential connotations. That is, the complex is not just the simple attachment to the beautiful nature and leisurely life in the south of the Yangtze, but a complicated integration of culture and mentality embodied in his life experience, concept of values, inner ideas and feelings and other elements of life. It is a vivid and lively reflection of Bai's philosophy and values in the southern region, which has an obvious influence on Bai's life attitude and literary creation. Therefore, this paper furthers explanation and interpretation of the inner cause for Bai's "southern complex" through four respects, that is, "diligent in administration - reflecting the value of life", "sympathetic to peasants -mirroring his spirit of people-orientation ", "leisurely in living - showing his thought of 'Zhongyin'(a hermit in the government who can enjoy both the leisure of life and the elusion of political collision.) ", and "meditating on Buddhism - exhibiting his exploration of philosophy".This article also pointed out that the forming of Bai's "southern complex" is not isolated. Instead, the complex and the southern culture not only complement each other, but expedite the development of one another. On the one hand, Bai has become a part and even a symbol of southern culture, an emblem. On the other hand, the rich and profound southern culture provides nutritious nourishment and inspiration for Bai's conception and literary creation to promote the improvement of his personality and the release of his creativeness.