TSANG-LANG DISCOURSE ON POETRY
BY YEN YÜ
Translated from the Chinese by Peng Chun Chang
THE DEFINITION OF POETRY
SPEAKING in general, the way of Buddhism is Spiritual Intuition, and the way of poetry is also Spiritual Intuition. A poet like Meng Hsiang-Yang cannot compare with Han Tueh-Tse in scholarly learning, but his poetry is vastly superior, and the difference lies in Spiritual Intuition. Only by Intuition can true virtuosity and individual colour be achieved. But in Intuition there are the shallow and the deep, and also the differences of discernment. There is the Intuition that is clear and transparent, and there is the Intuition that knows little and understands less. Thus the poetry of the Han and Wei Dynasties is good; its Intuition is not false. Hsieh Ling-Yuen and the poets of the most brilliant period of the Tang Dynasty possess Intuition of the clear and transparent kind. In others the Intuition is no longer of the first order. I so judge, and my judgement is not pretension. I so argue, and my argument is not unfounded. The way of poetry is what I have said it to be. If there is disagreement, it must be because of the lack of extensive observation or the lack of thoroughness in study.
There are five elements in the structure of poetry—Bodily Form, Skeletal Strength, Atmosphere, Interest, and Rhythm.
There are nine qualities of poetry—Exaltation, Unconventionality, Depth, Far-Awayness, Fluency, Masculine Maturity, Happy Charm, Brave Tragedy, and Soft Sadness.
There are three places where special application is required—Beginning and End, Sentence Construction, and Word Choice.
There are two kinds of general effect—the Leisurely and Unhurried, and the Soundly-Set and Supremely Satisfying.
There is but one Highest Reach in poetry, namely, Entering into the Spirit. If poetry can enter into the Spirit, it has achieved the best, the very highest, and there is nothing more to be added. Li Po
