On Jiangzhou Poetry in the Six Dynasties

Jiangzhou district was one of the most important cultural regions in the Six Dynasties, and poetry creation was prosperous there. Jiangzhou cultural district was composed of the cultural district of Gan (“赣”) which contained such prefectures as Yuzhang, Xunyang, Poyang, Linchuan, Luling, Ancheng and Nankang, and of the cultural district of Min (“闽”) which comprised Jin’an, Jian’an and so on. Xunyang was an area where appeared most of Jiangzhou poetry. Tao Yuanming was a poet with most of poetry creation in this district, and one of the few poets who stayed in their hometown all along producing numerous poems. This became one of Jiangzhou poetry characteristics and led to the formation of Xunyang reclusive poetry. Because of Xunyang’s geographical position, the poets of later generations created some poems when passing by. Under the influence of Jiangzhou landscape and the traditional poetry style, there came into being a kind of philosophical, refreshing and smooth style, which motivated the formation of the fresh and natural poetic style in the Southern Dynasties. As for Min cultural district, poetry creation in Jin’an was most flourishing. Most of these poems were composed by Jiang Yan, the magistrate of Wuxing, influenced by the specific scenery and products, and bestowed with a Lisao style (“骚体”).