Poetry

1.MidPeak  (Southern Song Dynasty)   Lin Bu

Brief Analysis:
This poem is theearliest one existing concerning Leifeng Pagoda on the Sunset Hill on the West Lake.The Evening Glow in the view of The Evening Pagoda in Evening Glow originatedin the poem. The poem depicts the beautiful scenery and expresses the poet'semotions. The poem was written by Lin Bu, with his another name as Junfu, a Hangzhou native in theearly Northern Song Dynasty. He lived in seclusion for years on the SolitaryHill facing Sunset Hill across the West Lake. He grew mumeflowers and kept a crane, known as Peaceful Recluse. A collection of Poems byhim proved immortality. He had been one of the most influential hermit poetssince Tao Qian in Chinese literature.

2.The EveningPagoda in Evening Glow (Yuan Dynasty)

Yin Tinggao
Brief Analysis:
The poem gives vividdescription to the image of the view. With ornate diction, it expresses poet'sstrong emotions. It is one of the most popular poems with the theme of the EveningPagoda in Evening Glow. The poet describes the scenery of the pagoda bathing inthe sunset glow. Yin Tinggao born in Suichang, Zhejiang Province, with his another name of Zhongming andalternative name of Six Peaks was a poet in thelate Song Dynasty and the early Yuan Dynasty with a collection ofYujingqiaochang.

3.Maipeitangthe Evening Pagoda in Evening Glow    (Ming)  Qu You

Brief Analysis:
The poem depicts theview of the Evening Pagoda in Evening Glow from the distant perspective to theclose one, from dusk to evening. It also describes the prosperity of the southroute along the West Lake and the scenery ofEvening Bell Ringing on the Nanping Hill. The poem is vivid with ornatediction. The poet was a famous scholar as a Hanghzou native in the MingDynasty.

4.LeifengPagoda in the Evening Glow (Ming Dynasty) Wang Ying

Brief Analysis:
The poem describes thescenery of the evening pagoda in the evening glow and tourists in the style ofsimple and straightforward. The poem is original as it uses the technique ofpersonalization. The pagoda is so grateful to the tourists that it held thelast glow of sunset for the tourists to enjoy the view. The poem fancies thatthe pagoda has the major to hold the transient ness. Wang Ying, with his nameof Yuan Ming, is a poet of Hangzhouin the late Ming Dynasty.

5.To watchthe Lotus Flowers (Ming Dynasty) Li Liufang

Brief Analysis:
The poem depicts theremaining body of Leifeng Pagoda suffering from fire. The pagoda is compared toan old Tippler with red face. The comparison is novel and therefore popular.The poet Li Liufang was a famous painter in the late Ming Dynasty. Wen Qixiang,one of his friends compared Baochu Pagoda to a beauty while Leifeng Pagoda toan old monk in his poem.

6.Memory ofLeifeng Pagoda (modern) Huang Yanpei

Brief Analysis:
Huang Yanpei was formervice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and amodern patriot inChina.He showed his enthusiasm for Leifeng Pagoda in his poems and shared the desireof its reconstruction with other well-known personages at home and abroad. Thepoem ended with the interrogative sentence: Who would rebuild the Pagodaexpressed the poet’s nostalgia for the pagoda and his desire for itsrebuilding. Now when the tourists ascending the pagoda and reading the poem,they will be rejoiced to find the dream in the poem has come true.  

7.To the TopTen Views of West Lake   Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow  (Qing Dynasty) Hongli

Brief Analysis:
Emperor Qianlong, withthe royal family name of Aisin Gioro Hongli in Qing Dynasty had been to theWest Lake for six times and written poems with the topic of the Top Ten Viewsof West Lake each time. In spite of its ordinary artistic value, this poemwritten in the style of classical poetry with four lines and seven charactersto a line is of historical value for its author, the highest ruler inChinathen evaluated the view in the poem and made it well known. He felt sorry thatthe collapsed pagoda was unable to ascend and expressed his sorrow in the poem.Luckier than the Emperor Qianlong, the modern tourists can enjoy the pleasureof ascending the rebuilt pagoda and feel sorry for the Emperor when they read the poems.