On The Creation, Development And Evolvement Of Ancient Landscape Poetry In Guilin

Research on the creation, development and evolvement of ancient landscape poetry in Guilin not only reflects the landscape culture of Guilin but also interprets the literature tradition of Chinese landscape poetry from a regional perspective. With the fact that researches and studies on ancient Guilin landscape poetry are deficient, this paper, mainly based on scenic poems on ancient Guilin, discusses the influence of landscape in Guilin made on the emergence and development of landscape poetry in ancient Guilin and explores the typical performance and evolvement of the poetry in different dynasties so as to conclude and refine its unique aesthetic connotation.The Guilin landscape poetry is an essential component of the landscape culture in Guilin. Its emergence and development have close relationship with the landscape in Guilin and also are inseparable with the creation of literati in Guilin. The beautiful natural environment provides good external atmosphere for the creation of scenic poems by men of letters. In the past dynasties, Guilin, being a place of strategic importance in the south, has plenty of administers or officers who were literati as well. They were the main force in creating the scenic poems in ancient Guilin. As a city in the southern borderland where some men of letters were relegated, Guilin also has glaring poems composed by the exiled officials. Being famous for its landscape, Guilin had attracted many literati who produced poems for their trip in the city as well. Moreover, poets of Guilin origin chanted through compositions for the wonderful scenery in their hometown with enthusiasm.The ancient landscape poetry in Guilin originated in the Wei Jin South and North Dynasties, took shape in Tang Dynasty, developed and improved in Song and Yuan Dynasties, and peaked in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The landscape poetry in each period, bred under varied political and historical backgrounds in different times, revealed the poetry creation features of their times and presented the aesthetic characteristics of elegance, novelty, beauty and masculine. In whichever dynasties, poets and writers have attempted to unfold their spiritual outlook that they would be content with the doctrine and politics when staying in the secular world and take things as they are when standing aloof from the worldly affairs. Therefore, Guilin scenic poems also embody the ancient men of letters’ experience of the world and the life consciousness.