Artistic Use of Xu and Shi in Chinese Classical Poetry

The theory of xu(the unreal) and shi(the real) was an important part of ancient Chinese literary theories.As an aesthetic theory,it stems from the philosophical ideas of Lao Zi,and as a skill of artistic expression,it plays an active role in promoting the writing of ancient Chinese poetry.In ancient Chinese poetry,great emphasis is laid upon the artistic use of xu and shi,highlighting the unreal by the depiction of the real or vice versa,or sometimes combining the two into an organic whole.These are the three kinds of artistic realms adorned by the ancient Chinese poets.