On the Differences of Withdrawal of Xie LingYun and Tao YuanMing

Xie LingYun and Tao YuanMing were famous recluses in Jin and Song dynasties. Although the aesthetic interests of them are both concerned about nature, the differences in their family backgrounds, social status and economic conditions led to the difference of their withdrawal. Looking from the perspective of motivation, Xie intended to live his own life by escaping from misfortunes, while Tao tried to preserve his integrity; looking from the perspective of the ways of their withdrawal, Xie found sustenance in landscapes while Tao supported his aspiration on farming; looking from the perspective of mood after withdrawal, Xie had all kinds of feelings in his mind while Tao did not care about fame and wealth in his heart.