The Spiritual Pursuit and Formal Innovation in Xi Chuan’s Poetry

Abstract

This paper examines Xi Chuan's poetry to explore its academic standing, spiritual essence, and formal innovation within contemporary Chinese poetry. Through analysis of his early representative works Gazing at the Starry Sky in Haulage and The Distant Land, combined with the context of his poetic creation and aesthetic characteristics, this paper argues that Xi Chuan is not only a leading figure among third-generation poets but also a quintessential representative of "intellectual writing" since the 1990s. His poetry, while inheriting the tradition of Eastern spiritual contemplation, integrates modern consciousness to form a unique artistic style and spiritual pursuit. Xi Chuan is virtually synonymous with the "academic school" in contemporary circles. Possessing a noble and unyielding spirit, he maintains a saintly devotion to traditional culture and the essence of life, consciously bearing the mission of rebuilding classical poetic spirit. His verse is solemn yet pure, harmonious yet profound, elegant yet restrained, journeying back along the path to the ultimate soul. The new poetry of the 21st century will inevitably be natural, as natural as 19th-century Chinese poetry. That 19th-century Chinese poetry died out quite naturally in the 20th century. For 21st-century new poetry to survive, it must become as natural as that of the 19th century. This is not a regression, but rather the culmination of our accumulated experience. The widespread misunderstandings about new poetry, carried over from the 20th century, will also come to an end.