A Case-solving in Yuan Dynasty Poetry Circles —— The Controversy between Yuji and Jiesi

A public case in the Yuan Dynasty-the dispute between Yuji and Jiesi

In the early Tang Dynasty, Wang Bo, Yang Jiong, Lu Zhaolin and Luo Binwang, who were called the four outstanding poets at that time, were not convinced of each other in ranking. Coincidentally, more than 3 years later, in the poetry circle of Yuan Dynasty, two poets, Yu Ji and Jie Si, among the four great poets of Yuan Dynasty, were also locked in a quarrel because they were not convinced of each other.

Yuan Tao Zongyi's Record of Dropping Out of Farming recorded Yu Ji's comments on poetry: "What about Zhong Hong's poems?" I asked Mr. Yu. Mr. Wang said,' Zhong Hongshi is like an athlete in many battles.' How about the poem "Virtue and Machine"? "Yue:' Virtue poems are like Tang Linjin posts.' How about Manshuo's poem?' Yue:' Manshuo's poems are like beautiful flowers.' How's the poem, sir?' Laughing, he said,' Yu Ji is an old official of the Han court.' "This passage comments on the poetic style of four people in image language. Yu Ji's comments on Yang Zai's poems, such as "A hundred battles of athletes", mean that his poems are vigorous. Comment on Fan Ya's poems such as "Tang Lin Han Tie" means that his poems dilute leisure. Comments on Jie Lisi's poems, such as "Beauty Flower" and "Three-Day Bride" (Yu Ji's comments on another occasion), mean that his poems are good at being gorgeous, but they are also soft and charming after all, lacking in bone strength; Self-rating as an "old official in the Han court" means that his poems are vigorous and sophisticated, such as the old official using a pen, hammering words and forging sentences, neat and rigorous. Obviously, this passage praises oneself and belittles Jiesi.

According to "Notes outside Yaoshan Hall" (written by Jiang Yikui), Jiesi was greatly dissatisfied after hearing this comment. He immediately rushed to Yuji's home by bus to check this matter, which led to a quarrel. Jiesi was furious and left. Since then, the two have forged a hatred. Later, Jiesi wrote "Preface to Mr. Fan's Poems" for Fan. In the preface, he deliberately quoted Yu Ji's comments and said, "Everyone who hears it laughs." He also said: "Fan Deji's poems are like clouds in the autumn sky, sunny and thunderous, changing vertically and horizontally, without me;" Another example is the empty mountain road, learning from the valley, skinny and arrogant; Another example is the eagle sweeping the wild, the crane calling the flock alone, looking around for no one, and a blue Wan Li. " This passage reveals the diversity of Fan Shi's style, which is indeed more accurate than Yu Ji's evaluation. However, Jie Si's motivation is either to play against Yu Ji or to compete with Yu Ji. After Jiexi entered the Hanlin, he was highly valued by Yuan Wenzong. He wrote four poems "Remembering Yesterday" to send them to Yu Ji, which showed his pride in being favored by the literate Sect and his great boast and pity for others. Yu Ji did not give in, and immediately wrote three poems to answer. The third poem wrote: "Send a message to others not to laugh, and praise them to whom." Obviously expressed a sarcastic attitude. He also approved a sentence at the bottom of the paper, "Today's bride is old." In order to show his adherence to the previous poetry criticism, he intended to be tit-for-tat with Jiesi.

Actually, Yu and Jie are both good at each other, so it is difficult to compete. Jiesi is by no means just a "three-day bride". The Summary of Sikuquanshu says that Jiesi's poems are "fresh and graceful, don't spare the charm" and "exquisite in spirit, with deep sustenance", which is a pertinent evaluation and a fair evaluation.

The reason why Yu Ji belittles Jiesi and exalts himself is basically because of his fame and fortune. What he did was very undesirable. Jiesi can't laugh it off. Instead, he exchanged teeth and made a big scene. Isn't this fame and fortune at work? In fact, it is not necessary for Jiesi to be true, and it is not necessary to compete with Yu Ji. Whether you are a "three-day bride" will be discussed by people and future generations. Why are you in such a hurry? Alas! I lost my manners in vain and let others see the joke.