and Tu Fu have attained it. Others who have attained it are few.
In poetry there are other materials than those related to books, and there are other interests than those related to the reasons of things. But without reading many books and without pursuing the reasons of things, the highest in poetry cannot be reached. Yet poetry of the first order should, as noted by the saying, tread not the path of reason and fall not into the trap of words. Poetry is the singing of feelings and emotions. The men of the most brilliant period in the Tang Dynasty in their inspired moods are like the chamois hanging on their horns during sleep, leaving no trace of their footsteps for others to follow. The most beautiful parts of their poetry are clear, transparent, and fluttering like jade pieces in the breeze. They are like music in the void, colour in phenomena, moon in the water, image in the mirror—there is an end in words, but the thought wafts on for ever.
The poets in recent times follow a peculiar doctrine. They compose poetry out of words, compose poetry out of learning, and compose poetry out of opinion. They are laborious enough, but theirs is no longer the poetry of the ancients, for they are deficient in the music of joys and sighs.
THE METHOD OF POETRY
To learn to compose poetry it is first required to do away with Five Vulgarities (or Conventionalities)—Vulgar Form, Vulgar Thought, Vulgar Sentences, Vulgar Words, and Vulgar Rhythm.
There must be individual colour; there must be true virtuosity.
Good couplets are attainable; but good concluding lines are hard to attain, and harder still are good opening lines.
It is not necessary to stick too closely to the theme; it is not necessary to use too many incidents.
In launching words it is important that they must be striking and clear-sounding; in framing phrases it is important that they must be rounded and mature.
Thoughts are valued for their freedom and ease; they should not be like water inseparably mixed with mud.
It is most important to avoid disconnected fragmentariness; it is most important to avoid patching and propping.
Phrases must not be blunt, thoughts must not be shallow, veins
