Vitality and Cohesiveness in the Poetry of Shangguan Wan'er (664–710)

This essay examines two major characteristics of Shangguan Wan'er's poetry by placing them in the context of the development of poetry and poetics from the Southern Dynasties through the early Tang. Shangguan responded to the challenge of poetry writing in the early Tang with vitality and cohesiveness, which several poets had advocated since the 670′s. She also paid equal attention to literary embellishment and craft that she inherited from earlier traditions. The synthesis of traditions and new aesthetics shown in her poetry is part of an important literary current at the turn of the eighth century when the styles of poetry transitioned to those later known as the High Tang. Shangguan's strong influence on Emperor Zhongzong's court literary salon helped promote her taste and directed the literary currents of her time. This essay also presents a textual history of Shangguan's collected works and discusses some authorship issues related to poems that have been attributed to her since the Song dynasty.