Sh i P oe t ry : anC i e n t anD r e C e n t s t y l e s 311symbol of literati ideals, inseparable from the self-image of the men who created
it. In this highly anthropomorphized conception, the plum blossom embodied one
aspect of the aesthetic and cultural ideals of the period.3
Lin Bu’s poem also brings to mind another innovation of Song literary culture,
which was the creation of a new form of poetry criticism, known as “remarks on
poetry” (shihua). This was a compilation of short critical observations about poetic
lines, evaluating their technique and merits. This form of poetic connoisseurship
had its origins in the witty literary conversations among educated persons of the
time that eventually were written down. Lin Bu’s poem is discussed in several
Song-period remarks on poetry, as critics expressed their appreciation for the sec-
ond couplet, for example, or debated its merits relative to other couplets on the
same subject. Following is an example of one such entry:
When Wang Junqing was in Yangzhou, he met with Sun Chenyuan and Su
Zizhan [Su Dongpo]. As Junqing set out wine for the others, he remarked,
“‘Spare shadows slant across waters that are clear and shallow, / Hidden fra-
grance hangs and drifts under a moon hazy and dim.’ This is from Lin Hejing’s
[Lin Bu’s] plum blossom poem. Yet these lines might just as well be applied to
the flowering apricot, peach, or pear.” Dongpo replied, “Well, yes, they might.
But I’m afraid the flowers of those other trees wouldn’t presume to accept
such praise.” Everyone present laughed.4C 1 5. 2
Lament for My Wifeno. 1 悼亡 其一 (dào wáng qí yī)
Since we tied up our hair to be husband and wife 結髮為夫婦 (jié fà wéi fū fù)
2 Seventeen years have passed. 於今十七年 (yú jīn shí qī nián)
Living with her, I could never look at her enough, 相看猶不足 (xiāng kàn yóu bù zú)
4 What now, that she is lost to me forever? 何況是長捐 (hé kuàng shì cháng juān)
My hair by my temples already has much white in it 我鬢已多白 (wŏ bìn yĭ duō bái)
6 How long will my own body remain intact? 此身寧久全 (cĭ shēn nìng jiŭ quán)
In the end I will share a grave with her, 終當與同穴 (zhōng dāng yŭ tóng xué)
8 Not dead yet, my tears flow endlessly. 未死淚漣漣 (wèi sĭ lèi lián lián)
no. 2 其二 (qí èr)
Whenever I go out, it is like I’m in a dream, 每出身如夢 (mĕi chū shēn rú mèng)
2 Meeting people, I must force myself to be sociable. 逢人強意多 (féng rén qiăng yì duō)
I come home and am as lonely as before, 歸來仍寂寞 (guī lái réng jì mò)
4 I want to talk, but who is there? 欲語向誰何 (yù yŭ xiàng shéi hé)
Through a cold window a firefly enters, 窗冷孤螢入 (chuāng lĕng gū yíng rù)
6 In the long night a single goose flies past. 宵長一雁過 (xiāo cháng yí yàn guò)
In this life there is no greater grief, 世間無最苦 (shì jiān wú zuì kŭ)
8 It grinds away at my spirit. 精爽此銷磨 (jīng shuăng cĭ xiāo mó)