The principles of poetry

From the song dynasty onward, it became the fashion for poets and critics to write critical works called “poetry talks” (shihua 詩話,) highly informal compositions with numerous short sections, each consisting of lines of poetry followed (or preceded) by the author’s prose comments. ¹ Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修 (1007–72) originated this form in about 1070 with his Poetry Talks of Mr. One-Six (Liuyi shihua 六一詩話,) and it was continued and enriched by such authors as Yang Wanli, Jiang Kui 姜夔 (ca. 1155–1221), and Yan Yu 嚴羽 (fl. 1180–1235) during the Southern Song period. ² The writing of poetry talks continued during the Ming dynasty but reached its height in the Qing dynasty, and both Yuan Mei and his friend Zhao Yi are noted for leaving behind major bodies of critical writings in the form. ³