Transformation from Edo Neo-Confucian Poetics Towards Gediao Poetics:A Study on Muro Kyūsō's Poetics
In the pre-Edo period,Japanese poetry was dominated by Neo-Confucian poetics,and the Chu Hsi School was in charge of poetry,highlighting the edifying function of poetry.In the mid-Edo period,with the influence of the poetics of the Ming Dynasty,Gediao School gradually became the mainstay of Japanese poetry.The Confucian scholar and outstanding Han poet Muro Kyūsō also advoca-ted the poetic thoughts of"Literature is for conveying the Tao"and"Literature follows the Tao",which had strong characteristics of Neo-Confucianism.But he began to emphasize the thought of"Sepa-ration between poetry and prose",was good at analyzing literary styles,and attached importance to po-etic techniques and artistry,which demonstrated a self-conscious orientation towards"literature",pres-enting the characteristics of the poetics of Gediao School.His poetic thoughts reflect the transformation from Edo Neo-Confucian poetics towards Gediao poetics,and a study of this poetic case helps to clarify and outline the trajectory of the development of Edo poetics.
Edo periodMuro KyūsōNeo-Confucian poeticsGediao School