Liu Zai, a poet at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, although he could not enter the camp of famous artists, his poems were simple and natural, natural and smooth, without the meaning of carving, especially reflecting the realistic poetry of the lives of the people of the Southern Song Dynasty, with the greatest artistic achievements. This kind of poetry is a mirror of the society at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, and it has high value for the history of poetry in the late Southern Song Dynasty. Today, we will enjoy the ten poems of Liu Zai, an ordinary poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, and experience the simplicity and sense of reality of his poems, I believe you will feel something.
Liu Zai was born in a very ordinary family, and later became a jinshi and a first, becoming an official during the Southern Song Dynasty. However, because he saw the confused career path and the danger of the country, he resolutely chose to resign from the government and live in seclusion, which was thirty years. During these thirty years, the state has invited him to "go out of the mountains" many times, but he has refused for various reasons. In the reclusive life, Liu Zai has no other hobbies except reading and writing poetry, and is plain and simple, and he is self-satisfied, which is also another kind of happiness. Therefore, his way of life is similar to his poetic style, simple and plain, which is Liu Zai's life.
With a straight personality and not attaching himself to the powerful, Liu Zai's poetry can reflect a kind of spiritual character of his scholar and doctor. In his circle, there were generally literati and inkers at that time, and their personalities and sentiments were similar, and many of them were famous literary artists, such as Zhao Fan, the literary scholar Wang Sui, and the theorist Zhen Dexiu. In the "History of Song", Liu Zai's image is also positive, calling him a diligent and loving official. Due to the unsatisfactory career, coupled with his own leukoplakia, his heart has been haunted by the concept of longing for "freedom", Liu Zai has the idea of retreat in his heart, and finally put into action, resigning from the government and living in seclusion.
Although an official, Liu Zai is also an ordinary person, and he has a wealth of emotions. For parting, his heart contains both a sad side and a broad and free side, which is reflected in his poetry. However, his farewell poem does not express a strong sorrow, but a faint sadness, and he carries his emotions through external things. For the departure of his friend, Liu Zai did not show too much pity, but expressed his blessings for his friend's future prospects, and at the same time gave sincere advice and encouragement.
Leisurely and reclusive poetry occupies a large proportion of Liu Zai's surviving works. This kind of poem is created by his secluded countryside, the poem reflects the comfortable and comfortable pastoral life, but also depicts the experience of interacting with neighbors and friends, he enjoys it, feels the joy of being separated from the government and the wilderness, and attaches himself to the mountains, which sets off his positive and optimistic attitude towards life. In the leisurely and secluded poems, it can also reflect Liu Zai's spiritual appeal for "freedom". In addition, when writing such poems, Liu Zai was a mature stage of his outlook on life, and he could also represent the best way for the literati to break away from their inner struggles at that time.
As mentioned above, Liu Zai was a good official who was diligent in government and loved the people, and part of his poems described the people's living hardships. He sympathized with the people and cared for them, which had strong practical significance. From this kind of poetry, we can see that Liu Zai's noble sentiments are the epitome of the times, a mirror of the times, and the helplessness of the poets in the times when they see the people's unhappy situation. This kind of poetry, Liu Zai was deeply influenced by Du Fu, he admired Du Fu, the poetry creation imitated Du Fu, especially the poetry that reflected social reality and historical style got the connotation of Du Fu's poetry.
In Liu Zai's poems, the use of imagery is extremely common, the image is mainly empathetic, rarely positive description, the image carries the poet's emotions and outlook on life, world view, and reflects the poet's high, perseverance and noble character. Overall, Liu Zai's poems are diverse in form, showing a sense of melancholy and vastness, exuding a diluted and subtle beauty, enriching the poetic connotation with allusions, interpreting the poet's spirit with imagery, and worrying about the country and the people and the idea of seclusion becoming the most artistic value of his poetry. Although Liu Zai did not have the talent of a first-class poet, his poetry was affirmed in the dynasties that followed him and deserved the attention of future generations.
Today, we will enjoy the ten poems of the late Song Dynasty poet Liu Zai, experience the practical significance and spiritual appeal behind the poems, and you will definitely like them after tasting them.