Eclecticism and Convergence: On the Inheritance and Transformation of Yuan Mei’s Poetics of Disposition by Forebear of Nanyang Poetry Khoo Seok Wan

Abstract

袁枚和邱菽园分别是两个不同时代与地区的诗坛领袖；袁枚在乾隆（1736— 1795）、嘉庆（1736—1820）年间率领中国内地诗坛，而邱菽园则在光宣（1875—1908）、宣统（1909—1912）之际引领新加坡诗坛。邱菽园既是袁枚性情诗学的继承者，又是改造者。他与清代中期以来复古、革新两大体系的诗论都有所接触，对双方的优缺点都有深刻的理解。因此，他论诗重性情，也重诗教；在诗学摹仿与创新问题的看法上，也将两者置于同等地位，形成了具有“折中” 与“融合”特色的诗论。通过对其“折中”与“融合”特色的探讨，也有利于加深我们对袁枚性情诗论在新加坡传播与影响的认识。

Yuan Mei and Khoo Seok Wan were poetic leaders in two different eras and regions. Yuan Mei led the Chinese poetry community during the Qianlong (1736-1795) and Jiaqing (1796-1820) periods, while Khoo Seok Wan led the Singapore poetry community during Guangxu (1875-1908) and Xuantong (1909-1912) periods as well as early years after the Republic of China was established. Khoo Seok Wan was not only the successor to Yuan Mei’s poetics of disposition, but also the reformer. He came into contact with the poetic theory of the two systems of retrospection and reformation since the mid-Qing Dynasty. He also had a profound understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of both sides. Therefore, his discourse on poetry focused on both dispositional and educational aspects of poem. In the view of the imitation and innovation of poetry, he also regarded both as equally important. Thus, he formed a poetic theory with the characteristics of “eclecticism” and “convergence”. Through the discussion of these “eclecticism” and “convergence” characteristics, it also helps to deepen our understanding of the dissemination and influence of Yuan Mei’s poetic theory in Singapore.