Taoist Doctrine in Tao Yuanming's Poetry

Tao Yuanming (365-427) remains a controversial figure when it comes to his literary tradition in his poetry. The present paper aims to explore the Taoist doctrine expressed in his poems. While focusing on the Taoist ideas of naturalness, harmony of man with nature, fusion of the virtual and the real, and ineffability of Tao, the paper examines how these ideas are reflected in Tao Yuanming’s poetry. Three of his representative poems are closely analyzed in terms of their structures, themes, and imagery. The paper demonstrates that Tao Yuanming’s poetry does embody the Taoist philosophy through their themes and artistic mood created.