Literary Thoughts

Tao Yuanming was a great philosopher of the medieval era. His literary thought was an important component of the literary thought of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. His understanding of truth emphasizes not only the authenticity of history and life, but also the authenticity of thoughts, emotions, and aspirations, making it a more perfect artistic reality. At the same time, his understanding of nature also reflects the uniqueness of his literary ideas. He does not preach or carve, emphasizes the freedom of emotional expression, and emphasizes the natural formation of poetry and prose, which is a very high realm. However, whether advocating for artistic authenticity or advocating for the nature of literature, both are aimed at expressing life with ease and detachment. This is the soul of Tao Yuanming's literary thought.

Tao Yuanming has a very clear understanding of the hypocrisy and darkness of social personnel, so his seclusion is not a passive escape from reality, but has a profound positive significance in criticizing social reality. When he fell into the dilemma of hunger and cold in his long reclusive life, although he also hesitated and wavered, he ultimately did not yield to reality, and even if he was poor, he would stick to integrity for life. It is said that the county officials sent a postal inspector to meet him, and the county officials asked him to dress up and welcome him. He sighed and said, "How could I bow down to the children of the village for five dou meters!" From then on, not bowing down for five dou meters was a good talk. Tao Yuanming enjoys drinking alcohol and expresses his unwillingness to associate with the corrupt ruling group, expressing his serene and lofty character. It is precisely because of this that his works, although plain and simple, are full of poetry.

Tao's poetry and prose consist of over 140 pieces, with as many as 70 quotations from the allusions of "Liezi" and "Zhuangzi", indicating a deep acceptance of Laozi and Zhuangzi's ideas. Tao Yuanming advocates the natural aesthetics of Laozi and Zhuangzi, while also living and working in the countryside. Naturally, rural life has become his aesthetic objectification, and thus has achieved the brilliance of Chinese pastoral poetry. Tao Yuanming's poetic beauty philosophy of valuing nature as beauty and truth as beauty shines on the poetic sentiment, illuminating the personality of the characters and making readers strongly feel the poet's indomitable pursuit of freedom and personal charm; In terms of content, it introduces pastoral life into the poetry world, opening up a Xintiandi for the development of Chinese poetry; Infiltrating into art creates a genuine and distant artistic realm and an aesthetic style that dilutes nature. This is the great poet Tao Yuanming. For thousands of years, his character, his poetry, his countryside, along with his leisureliness, have become objects of worship and research for future poets and readers, which is enough to demonstrate the endless vitality of his aesthetic ideas.