Jiang Shi
Jiang Shi (1818-1866) was a Chinese official and poet of the late Qing period, primarily famous for his use of simpler language within the general context of Song School poetry (Neo-Confucianism).[1] He was also an expert in calligraphy, line drawing and Chinese brush painting.[2]
Jiang Shi 江湜 | |
|---|---|
 Jiang Shi in Portraits of Qing dynasty scholars | |
| Born | Jiāng Shí 1818 Suzhou, Jiangsu |
| Died | 1866 (aged 47–48) Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
| Pen name | |
| Occupation | official, poet, calligrapher |
| Period | Qing dynasty |
| Subject | roaming, wandering, drifting |
| Notable works | Fuyutang Poems (伏敔堂詩錄) |
 Literature portal | |
Life and poetry
Born in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Jiang served various posts in the imperial government of Jiangsu, Shandong, Fujian and Zhejiang.[2] Due to the Taiping Rebellion, Jiang spent quite a lot of time wandering from one place to another.[3] This part of life experience was reflected in his roaming poems, which illustrated people's livelihood and local conditions in South China of the early 20th century, as well as social problems including the opium trade of that time.[4] His works also voiced changes in his mentality during the drifting: Jiang gradually realised the hopelessness in an official career and eventually turned to poetry, the true means of his life.[5]
His works are compiled in Fuyutang Poems.
Comments
Jiang kept true to the real feelings in his poems, avoiding mediocrity and pursuing originality. His theoretical views on poetry did not conform to the orthodoxy of his time, and were embodied in the various styles of his poems, which in turn shaped this distinguished master of poetry.[6]
The contemporary literary critic Qian Zhongshu saw Jiang as one of the best late-Qing poets, along with Huang Zunxian.[2]
References and notes
- Jerry D. Schmidt (2013). The Poet Zheng Zhen (1806-1864) and the Rise of Chinese Modernity. BRILL. p. xiii. ISBN 978-9004252295.
- Luo, Zengxiang (2010). "The Chronicle of Jiang Shi". Nanchang University. 5.
- Xiong, Jian-Mei (June 2009). "A Song of Wandering-A Research into Jiang Shi's Roaming Poems". Yinshan Journal (Social Sciences). 22 (3): 32–34, 112.
- Zuo, Peng-Jun (September 2009). "The Poetic Historical Value of Jiang Shi's Poems". Academic Journal of Jinyang. 2009 (5): 118–121.
- Xiong, Jian-Mei (December 2009). "The Poets of the Late Qing Dynasty Needs a Gravestone—A Study on the Poet Identity of Jiang Shi". Journal of Suzhou College of Education. 26 (4): 20–23.
- Zuo, Peng-Jun (September 2010). "Songs of the Heart and Weepings of the Poor and Depressed Poets-Poetics and Poetry of JIANG Shi". Shenzhen University Journal (Humanities & Social Sciences). 27 (5): 107–114.