The Early Development of Tz'u Poetry in the Late T'Ang Dynasty: Through the Perspectives of Three Remarkable Tz'u Poets

Abstract

Song tz'u, as a genre of treasurable Chinese literary work, is regarded as an important milestone in Chinese literary development. Evolving in the late T'ang dynasty, tz'u gradually shifted from fixed-length lines in shi to varied-length patterns, which were first regarded as a more entertaining but not serious form of informal literature. However, tz'u gradually gained high status as it continued to develop. Renowned tz'u poets such as Wen T'ing-yun and Wei Chuang made significant contributions to the early development of tz'u by exploring different stylistic approaches and enriching its expressive range. Wen T'ing-yun's works are known for their implicit meanings, rich imagery, and delicate emotional undertones, while Wei Chuang introduced more explicit expressions and logical narrative sequences. Later, Li Yu further advanced the genre by incorporating deep personal emotions and broadening the thematic scope of tz'u, further turning tz'u into a form of serious literature. This paper examines the contributions of these three early tz'u masters and their roles in establishing tz'u as a distinctive and enduring form in Chinese literary history.