A Study On The Evolution Of Ancient Concept Of Physical Fitness From The Perspective Of The Development Of Chinese Classical Poetry

Human society has been launched onto a fast track of development, which has brought about ever faster pace of life, higher cost of living, heavier mental burdens from life and work, and more complicated interpersonal relationships. People nowadays can no longer enjoy the idyllic and peaceful life described by Tao Yuanming, a recluse scholar from Wei-Jin Period (220-589AD), which goes like this "While picking asters neath the Eastern fence; my gaze upon the Southern mountain rests". And what is even worse is that many people have been subject to a complex of emotion consisting of anxiety and apprehension, which has incurred widespread sub-health and diseases among the public. Under the circumstances more and more people begin to show a keen interest in physical fitness for a life of better quality.Sports have inspired profound lofty sentiments of poets, and sports poetry in turn has promoted the evolution of sports. Sports poetry, a very unique component of Chinese classical poetry, has become a prominent cultural phenomenon. A close scrutiny of the development of sports poetry can reveal the evolution of Chinese sports and the concept of physical fitness in ancient times, which in turn can promote better understanding of the history of Chinese ancient sports.This paper looks into the traditional Chinese concept of physical fitness and its evolution from the perspective of literature, especially Chinese classical poetry. Hopefully, it can help Chinese people construct an appropriate concept as well as a practical means of physical fitness in this busy world, promoting people's sensitivity to the usefulness of the traditional concept of physical fitness and providing rational basis to the healthy development of popular sports in the post-Olympic era in China.