Recently, a debate about the literary value of the great man's masterpiece "Spring · Snow in Qinyuan" has caused an uproar on social media. A self-proclaimed writer "@作家李楠枫" posted a negative review of the poem on Weibo, sparking heated discussions among netizens. This Internet celebrity writer believes that "Spring · Snow in Qinyuan" is far inferior to the works of famous Song Dynasty artists such as Su Shi, Xin Qiji, and Yue Fei, and even bluntly said that it is "not worth mentioning". This remark immediately attracted a fierce confrontation between supporters and opponents, and for a while there was a lot of arguing on the Internet.
Classics are in question: influencer writers spark controversy
"@作家李楠枫" wrote on his Weibo: "I think "Spring · Snow in Qinyuan" is over-touted. Compared with Su Shi's "Nian Nujiao ·Chibi Nostalgia", Xin Qiji's "Breaking the Array· giving strong words to Chen Tongfu to send it", and even Yue Fei's "Man Jianghong", this poem is simply not worth mentioning. As soon as this remark came out, it immediately sparked a heated discussion on the Internet.
Proponents argue that Mr. Li's views break the long-standing "deification" of certain works and allow people to look at literary works with a more objective eye. Opponents argue that Li Nanfeng's remarks lack professionalism and lack a deep understanding of the historical background and creative background.
Interestingly, this debate quickly turned into a big debate about how to evaluate literary works. It has been said that "the value of a literary work should not be dictated by the identity of the author." Others retorted: "But we can't completely ignore the background and the influence of the author." "
Experts retort: Commentators on Kunlun Ce Network support the classics
While the Internet was arguing endlessly, a special commentator of Kunlunce published a long article with a detailed refutation of the "@作家李楠枫" view. The commentator pointed out that the creative background, artistic techniques and ideological connotations of "Qinyuan Spring · Snow" have their own unique features, and cannot be simply compared with Song Ci.
The reviewer wrote: "Spring · Snow in Qinyuan was written in 1936, at a time when the Chinese Revolution was in a difficult period. Mao Zedong used snow as a metaphor to express his firm belief in the future of the Chinese revolution. 'Look inside and outside the Great Wall, but reckless; Sentences like 'up and down the river, suddenly lost and surging' not only show a grand historical vision, but also contain profound philosophical thinking. "
The article also specifically mentions the well-known famous sentence "count the romantic characters, but also look at the present dynasty" in "Spring and ·Snow in Qinyuan", which is believed to reflect the author's deep insight into history and reality. Commentators believe that this kind of courage and open-mindedness are difficult for many ancient literati to achieve.
The debate escalated: the criteria for literary evaluation sparked heated discussions
As the debate deepened, people began to discuss how to objectively evaluate the value of a poem. Some people believe that it should be analyzed in terms of language, imagery, structure, etc.; It has also been emphasized that the social influence of a poem is as important as its historical status.
A literature lover wrote in the comment section: "I think the biggest charm of "Spring · Snow in Qinyuan" lies in its momentum. 'There are so many delicate rivers and mountains, leading countless heroes to bend their waists', this kind of heroic spirit is indeed difficult for many ancient poets to achieve. "
Another netizen held a different view: "However, heroism does not mean high artistry. Su Shi's 'The Great River Goes East, the Waves Are Exhausted, and the Eternal Romantic Characters' is not heroic? And in terms of artistic conception and the use of language, I think it is better. "
Historical Perspective: The Importance of the Context in which Poetry Was Written
One of the questions that has been raised repeatedly in this debate is: should we consider the context in which a poem was written?
Some people have pointed out that "Spring · Snow in Qinyuan" was created in 1936, when China was in the midst of internal and external troubles. Mao Zedong expressed his confidence in the future of the revolution with a snowy scene, and this spirit was particularly valuable in the historical context of that time.
One historian took to social media to share his opinion: "We can't evaluate a poem in isolation from its historical context. The value of "Qinyuan Spring · Snow" lies not only in its literary nature, but also in the inspiring role it played in a specific historical period. "
This view has also sparked some controversy. Someone retorted: "So, should we also consider the historical background of Su Shi and Xin Qiji's creations?" Their predicament may be even more severe than it was in the thirties of the twentieth century. "
Personal reviews
To be honest, this argument is a bit big for me. As an ordinary reader, I find it really difficult to evaluate a poem. "Qinyuan Spring Snow" does give people a feeling of swallowing mountains and rivers, but the works of Su Shi and Xin · also have their own merits. Maybe that's the charm of literature, everyone can find something they like in it.
Although the controversy did not lead to a unified conclusion, it brought more attention to classical literature. It doesn't matter which side you're on, at least it makes us rethink how we appreciate and evaluate literature. Perhaps, this is the most meaningful outcome, right? After all, isn't the charm of literature that it can provoke us to think and discuss?