A Critical Explanation of Yuan Jing's "Preface to Selected Poetic Witicisms"

In his Preface to Selected Poetic Witticisms, Yuan Jing, an Early Tang poet, argues that best poems are based on frank expression of the poet's feelings. A description of things outside with elaboration and elegance are supplementary. Yuan's poetics, together with his view of poetic rhythm, played an important role in the historical development of Early Tang poetry.