Four Heroes of the Early Tang Dynasty

The four poets who were active in China in the early Tang Dynasty were Wang Bo, Yang Jian, Lu Zhaolin, and Luo Bin Wang. They are also called Wang Yang Luo, and all of them came to prominence during the reign of Emperor Gaozong (reigned 649-683), and it is believed that they were already known as the "Four Greats" at that time. None of them achieved much success in the political world and ended their lives in obscurity, but their works, which retained the gorgeous expressions of the Six Dynasties style, were praised by the people for the freshness of their themes and emotions. In particular, their farewell and donation poems, as well as their poems, reflect the individuality and era that were rare in Six Dynasties poetry, and in terms of form, many of their works use the regulated verse form of a more modern style, playing a pioneering role in opening up the poetic style of the following prosperous Tang period. Wang Bo in particular produced many excellent works and is regarded as one of the four great masters.

[Sato Tamotsu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、初唐期に活躍した王勃(おうぼつ)、楊炯(ようけい)、盧照鄰(ろしょうりん)、駱賓王(らくひんのう)の4人の詩人をいう。「王楊盧駱」ともよび、ともに高宗（在位649～683）の治世年間に名が出て、当時すでに「四傑」の呼称があったと思われる。いずれも政界ではさほど出世できず不遇の一生を終えているが、その作品は、六朝(りくちょう)風の華麗な表現を残しながらも、題材と情感の新鮮さによって人々の賞賛を受けた。とくに送別や寄贈の作、また詠物(えいぶつ)の詩には、六朝詩に希薄な個性と時代性の反映が認められ、形式面でも近体詩の律詩形式を用いた作品が少なくないなど、次の盛唐期の詩風を切り開く先駆的な役割を果たした。とりわけ王勃に優れた作品が多く、四傑の代表と目されている。

［佐藤　保］

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