This lecture featured Professor Pu Yinan from the Department of Chinese Literature at National Kaohsiung Normal University, who spoke on the topic “What Lies Beyond the Words: A Discussion on the Polysemy of Poetry.” The speaker began by analyzing Zhu Qingyu’s poem “On a Recent Exam: A Poem Dedicated to Zhang Ji’s ‘Water’ Section,” discussing the translation of the title into poetic imagery. He then turned to Zhang Ji’s reply poem to explore the hierarchical structure of “rhyme” and “meaning,” as well as the implications beyond the words. Subsequently, the lecturer noted that composing classical poetry requires a harmonious personal style that integrates one’s living environment with personal experience to achieve conciseness of language; at the same time, appreciating classical poetry requires observing the emotional resonance, personification, and contrasts within the verses through association, human nature, and cultural rhythms. Therefore, the lecturer argued that the rhythmic flow of poetic phrases, compositional structure, narrative tension, and thematic intent can be interpreted through five perspectives: “rhyme,” “sound,” “phrase,” “poem,” and “title.” However, the lecturer also highlighted a key point: “Rich meaning does not equate to rich emotional resonance.” Using the chapter “Hidden Excellence” from *The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons* as an example, the lecturer explored the concepts of rich meaning and innovation, explaining that the polysemy of poetry encompasses four characteristics: “overlapping allusions,” “double meanings,” “grammatical ellipsis,” and “metaphorical imagery.” Through the lecturer’s discussion, it becomes clear that whether creating or appreciating a classical poem, one must possess a sense of artistic self-awareness, understand the author’s inner motivations as well as the extensibility of the text’s external meanings, and achieve a “heart-to-heart connection” within the context created by the classical poem.

Implemented by Department of Chinese Language & Literature Studies
Date: 2026/05/23