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Shanshui Poetry

World Traditional Verse Forms

Shanshui poetry, or shanshui shi, refers to a movement in Chinese poetry influenced by the shanshui, or landscape, painting style, and is also known as landscape poetry. Some poems in the genre were designed to be viewed alongside a particular work of art, while others were intended as textual art that evokes an image in the reader's mind. Developing in the third and fourth centuries in China, Shanshui poetry is one of the more important Classical Chinese poetry genres and contributed to the formation of a distinct Chinese aesthetic outlook.

Facts
Place of Origin
China, third and fourth centuries 1
Notable Example
Xie Lingyun 1
Defining Trait
Main focus on the natural landscape rather than nature as a backdrop for human presence 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Poetry, Genres
Sources
1. Shanshui poetry - Wikipedia
  • Development, origin
    Developing in the third and fourth centuries in China, Shanshui poetry contributed to the process of forming a unique aesthetic outlook.
  • Development, Xie Lingyun
    The Six Dynasties poet and government official Xie Lingyun has been dubbed not only Duke of Kangle but also the father of Shan-shui poetry.
  • Development, unique feature
    The unique development in Shanshui poetry was that the main focus became on the natural landscape, rather than the use of nature as a backdrop for the human presence.
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