"Prefer Song to Tang":A New Discussion on Li E's Poetics
Li E has always been regarded as a backbone force in the middle Qing Dynasty poetry circle who highly praised Song poetry.Researchers usually discuss this from three perspectives:poetic advocacy,compilation of Song Dynasty classics,and the dispute between Shen and Li.But upon more careful review,none of these can serve as a basis for determining Li E's admiration for Song poetry.He compiled the Song Dynasty classics out of a sense of patriotism,and the suspicious dispute with Shen Deqian was at most a minor incident in a special political environment.The most crucial thing is that in Li E's vague and plain poetic views,there is actually a concept of respecting Tang poetry.Therefore,contrary to the prevailing trend of the times,Li E's poetics school should be termed as"Prefer Song to Tang".