Chao Jiong and Literature in Early Song Dynasty

Chao Jiong is the founder of the Chao Family, well-known for its terrific literary achievements in the Song Dynasty. In his early time, he aspires after works in powerful and ornate style while he learns to write poems in Bai Juyi’s style. He is a close friend and colleague of Yang Yi, leader of the Xikun School, and they cherish the same ideals. His poems in Xikun style indistinctly show his virtue and the political struggle in the court. His long literary activities represent the right development trend in literature in early Song Dynasty, and show some characteristics beyond the general comprehension of academia on literature in early Song Dynasty. Chao Jiong’s poetry and prose had changed again and again. Hence,it is in correct to regard him as a poet in Bai Juyi’s style or a writer in Xikun style.