On Zhang Xuecheng's Comments on Yuan Mei's Essays of Suiyuan on Poetry

Zhang Xuecheng wrote critical articles about Yuan Mei's Essays of Suiyuan on Poetry in which his attitude was intense and his style of writing was trenchant. Lots of scholars believe that Zhang's criticism was completely an apolgist for his traditional moral principles. The article inquires into Zhang' s comments on Essays of Suiyuan on Poetry and holds that Zhang's comments are a revelation of Yuan Mei' s works and behaviors,and forcefully present his literary concept. Many of Zhang's criticisms are right to the point for they follow a realistic and pragmatic approach,rather than defending traditional moral principles or a verbal statement without any proof.