The Process of Visualizing the Posthouse in Poetry from the Middle Tang Dynasty to the Northern Song Dynasty
The depiction of posthouse in poetry dates back to the early Jin Dynasty,but it was not a focal point of literary works before the prosperous Tang Dynasty,nor did it possess any literary significance.It took more than three hundred years of efforts during the middle Tang and Northern Song Dynasties for this theme to mature.Poets employed techniques such as indirect contrast,environmental description,and character portrayal to elevate the artistic value of posthouse.They discov-ered poetic elements even in seemingly mundane aspects,transforming these locations from mere real-life settings into vivid imagery.With their simple yet expressive brushstrokes,poets painted vivid portraits of posthouse they encountered along their journeys,showcasing distinct characteristics of freehand expression.These poems possess unique aesthetic value and cultural connotations while exhibiting diverse forms,enriching the literary imagery of Tang and Song Dynasty poetry.From the perspective of posthouse poems,they serve as evidence for the evolution within Tang and Song Dynasty poetry.