On Ouyang Xiu's Reception of Bai Juyi

Ouyang Xiu's connection to Han Yu has been repetitively explored,but his connection to Bai Juyi has less been mentioned.As a matter of fact,Ouyang Xiu follows Wang Yucheng in early Song Dynasty in emulating Bai Juyi.In his life,Ouyang Xiu pursues leisure days of Bai Juyi style,indulging himself in enjoyment of various happiness,getting rid of gloominess which is often seen in demoted officers,and approaching to Bai Juyi style of optimistic views.This is an important exemplar to Scholars in Northern Song Dynasty.In his poetic creation,Ouyang Xiu writes simple and brief poems,which are highly connected to his learning from Bai Juyi.Through Ouyang Xiu's drastic poetic reform,Bai Juyi's plain style,satirist spirits and argument-based poetics were implanted into the essences of poetry in Song Dynasty.