Wang Anshi and Song Poetic Culture

A poetic culture is a group of shared principles and customs that influence how poetry is written and understood in a particular historical era. This book on Wang Anshi (1021–1086) and Song poetic culture explores various themes such as poetic contrarianism, the pursuit of novelty, the relationship between anthology compilation and canon formation, the entanglement of poetry with partisan politics, Buddhist orientations in poetic language, and the development of the notion of late style. The issues are diverse and reflect the period and Wang Anshi's unique personality, but they are all interconnected and form a mosaic of his work and its critical reception in Song poetic culture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 366 pages
Publication date: 17 December 2021
Publisher: Harvard University, Asia Center

A rich tapestry of shared values and conventions weaves together to shape the composition and interpretation of poetry within a specific historical era, forming the essence of a poetic culture. This groundbreaking work, the first of its kind in any Western language, delves into the intricate world of Wang Anshi (1021–1086) and Song poetic culture, shedding light on a multitude of critical concerns that are pivotal in comprehending both the poet and his cultural milieu. These issues encompass the motivations and outcomes of poetic contrarianism, the interplay between anthology compilation and canon formation, the intricate entanglement of poetry with partisan politics, the Buddhist influences in poetic language, and the emergence of the concept of late style. While each of these topics possesses its unique characteristics and dimensions, they all bear the imprint of the era and the distinctive personality of Wang Anshi. Presented primarily as a series of case studies, the individual chapters of this book can be explored independently, yet when taken together, they form a diverse and multifaceted mosaic that offers a partial yet captivating glimpse into Wang Anshis work and its reception within the broader context of Song poetic culture.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674262904