Rediscovering Ying Qu and His Poetic Relationship to Tao Qian

Exploring literary connections between Tao Qian (365-427) and Ying Qu (190-252), PAULINE LIN reevaluates the originality of Tao's poems. She revisits the claim of Zhong Rong (469?-518)-which has been dismissed by most commentators since the Song dynasty-that Ying Qu influenced Tao Qian. Drawing upon Ying Qu's little-read but oncefamous epistles, she notes marked literary similarities between the two poets. Further drawing evidence from the works of minor Eastern Jin poets, she suggests that idioms for the recluse gentleman, which critics had strongly associated with Tao Qian, actually circulated widely. Considering matters of transmission and preservation, Lin investigates why Tao Qian became a forceful poetic voice whereas Ying Qu is less well known; and why Tao Qian's connection to Ying Qu and the minor poets has been underplayed, if not forgotten.