In modern times, architects are more concerned about the function and productivity of architecture, thus prioritizing the succinctness and flow of circulation. In ancient times, palaces and temples were always laid out along a central axis to create a sense of solemnity, devoid of any turns and winding. Traditional Chinese gardens had no utilitarian purpose to pursue and no lofty momentum to boast. Therefore, few exceptions chose twists and turns over stiff and straight lines in the arrangement of the plan. “Laying out a garden is like composing a piece of poetry or prose. Twists and turns should be made sagaciously, beginnings should be echoed in endings, and superfluous padding and complexity are most dreaded. Only thus can the final results be deemed good.”(Collected Writings on the Study of Calligraphy at Lüyuan by Qian Yong) Such twists and turns are indeed closely connected to poems. Poetry and prose, especially the “Ci”, a lyric song characterized by lines of unequal length, are more valued by the intricacies of plots. “Rhymed writings reaches its pinnacle with the advent of Ci poetry.… With thousands of twists and turns, Ci creates an aesthetic realm and style that is impossible to achieve by other types of verses or proses. This is deemed the legacy of the poets.” (General Survey of Ci by Jiang Shunyi). In this way, Ci surpasses other genres with a stylish intricacy of twists and turns. How does this make it superior to other poetry genres? “The three realms of writers consist of a turn brings depth, and depth brings ingeniousness. If the writer is well versed in this art, he can rise above mediocrity.” (Overview of Literary Theories by Liu Xizai) This comment further demonstrates that each twist and turn produces a new realm of aesthetics, with realms emerging one after another, giving readers great fun and pleasure. The twists and turns raise literary and artistic works to a new realm of aesthetic appreciation. As other words written by the same author praises the poems of a very renowned poet Du Fu, stating that “Du’s poetry is so sophisticated, comprehensive and profound that no other poets can compare”. According to him, such profoundness was created by the twists and turns he had crafted into his works.

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Twists and Turns

  • Yigang Peng

摘要

In modern times, architects are more concerned about the function and productivity of architecture, thus prioritizing the succinctness and flow of circulation. In ancient times, palaces and temples were always laid out along a central axis to create a sense of solemnity, devoid of any turns and winding. Traditional Chinese gardens had no utilitarian purpose to pursue and no lofty momentum to boast. Therefore, few exceptions chose twists and turns over stiff and straight lines in the arrangement of the plan. “Laying out a garden is like composing a piece of poetry or prose. Twists and turns should be made sagaciously, beginnings should be echoed in endings, and superfluous padding and complexity are most dreaded. Only thus can the final results be deemed good.”(Collected Writings on the Study of Calligraphy at Lüyuan by Qian Yong) Such twists and turns are indeed closely connected to poems. Poetry and prose, especially the “Ci”, a lyric song characterized by lines of unequal length, are more valued by the intricacies of plots. “Rhymed writings reaches its pinnacle with the advent of Ci poetry.… With thousands of twists and turns, Ci creates an aesthetic realm and style that is impossible to achieve by other types of verses or proses. This is deemed the legacy of the poets.” (General Survey of Ci by Jiang Shunyi). In this way, Ci surpasses other genres with a stylish intricacy of twists and turns. How does this make it superior to other poetry genres? “The three realms of writers consist of a turn brings depth, and depth brings ingeniousness. If the writer is well versed in this art, he can rise above mediocrity.” (Overview of Literary Theories by Liu Xizai) This comment further demonstrates that each twist and turn produces a new realm of aesthetics, with realms emerging one after another, giving readers great fun and pleasure. The twists and turns raise literary and artistic works to a new realm of aesthetic appreciation. As other words written by the same author praises the poems of a very renowned poet Du Fu, stating that “Du’s poetry is so sophisticated, comprehensive and profound that no other poets can compare”. According to him, such profoundness was created by the twists and turns he had crafted into his works.