Su Shi (Su Dongpo) and Song Dynasty Poetry

Su Shi (Su Dongpo) and Song Dynasty Poetry

Su Shi's Background

• Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, is considered one of the great poets of the Song dynasty.
• His family exemplifies upward mobility in Chinese society: His grandfather was illiterate, and his father began literary study later in life.
• His mother was an avid Buddhist.

Principles of Poetry

• Each line tends to be its own statement or thought.
• Each statement aims for precision without being overly complex.
• Poets situate themselves in a specific place and time.
• Explanatory statements are balanced with sensory details.
• This balance is likened to currency: details are provided before emotional statements to establish a mood.
• The poet shows the effects of emotions on perception rather than directly stating them.

Describing Emotions

• Avoid simply labeling emotions; instead, present them through vivid descriptions.
• Example: "The vinyl is cracked" evokes a sense of dilapidation and allows the audience to fill in the details.
• Describe a scene (e.g., a barn) under different emotional states (pissed off, depressed) to capture various nuances.
• Each description, when done well, captures a unique aspect of the scene.

Su Shi's Mastery of the Arts

• Su Shi excelled in various arts, including poetry, calligraphy, and painting.
• These three arts utilize the same materials.

Analyzing a Poem

• The poem reflects observation over time: The poet observes a particular spot over a period.
• The poem is a response to an occasion, evident from the title (looking over the lake from the pavilion).
• The ending depicts the water becoming indistinguishable from the sky, illustrating age.

Elements in Writing

• Each line functions as its own statement.
• Example: "My neighbor, Denise, has a girl, Bassman's statement. Tonight, the rain sounds marvelously in them, statement. Alone at my window, I cannot sleep, statement."
• The reason for being unable to sleep is not immediately explained, mirroring how the mind often works.

"Snow in the Valley"

• The portrayal of spring involves motion, with petals and other things flying past the window.
• Sharp contrasts are present: racing to see the snow versus finding starving villagers and caved-in roofs.
• There is a dramatic reversal of expectations: The expectation of seeing beautiful snow is replaced by the reality of suffering.
• The poem implies the governor's (Su Shi's) sense of responsibility for the villagers' plight.
• The poem concludes with the image of a twilight crow, encapsulating the experience and conveying feelings more powerfully than directly stating them.

Personal Reflection

• Reflect on times when you experienced sharp contrasts or dramatic reversals of expectations.

Purple Peach Tree

• Peaches are the fruit of immortals.