By unifying the multi-states of ancient China, a great Empire was created. But it was soon destroyed by two rebellious lead. One of them, Liu Pang, achieved dominance, and a new dynasty called the Han was established. The first emperor of the new dynasty-though he had been only a village constable-was also a believer in poetry. He seized the capital, Hengyang, called the people there together and promised them freedom of speech. Then he gave them a three-article or provisional legal code, as follows:
The murderer should receive capital punishment
Both the wound-inflicter and robber
Must be chastised for their crimes as atonement.
In Chinese, it is in perfect rhyme, short but precise. As such, it is easy to commit to memory. In a chaotic nation over many years, it proved to be useful in maintaining social order.
Although Liu Pang himself was no student of poetry and literature, yet he enthusiastically pursued politics with poems. After he proclaimed himself the first sovereign of the Han dynasty, he returned to his native city and entertained the elders there with a feast. He selected a group of over one hundred children to chant a song-poem he had written. The song is known as "The Great Wind.
When the great wind begins to blow,
The clouds fly and scatter.
I gain power to reign over the land.
To my native village now I return.
But good soldiers where can I seek
To protect well all the four quarters?
This well-known song has been cited by rulers of succeeding dynasties and quoted by scholars.
Liu Pang triumphantly engaged in many battles with his rival, Hsiang Yu. In a final combat, he ordered a song from the Tsoo area to be chanted everywhere around his enemy's camp. Hsiang Yu, a native of Tsoo, was demoralized and gave up his fight. In the presence of Lady Yu, his favorite, he wrote a pathetic verse, known as the "Song of Kaihsia" after the place where he committed suicide. The song may be translated:
My strength is able to root up mountains;
My vigorous constitution unfavorable
For my steed will not run.
As my steed does not run,
What can I do? Oh, Lady Yu,
Oh, Lady Yu!
Why can't you help me?
The opportunity offered Liu Pang to become the first ruler of the Han was also a spur to poetry, which began to nourish in several new forms as its function began to change.
Dating from the previous dynasty, there was established an office known as or House of Tunes, with the duty of adding music to the collected poetry. The poetic form was very popular. Most nobles of Han were fond of writing poems in that form to music, because they came from Tsoo, the birth place of Li Siao.
The first ruler and his successors contributed much to the work of the Emperor Wu-ti enlarged the organization, appointing a distinguished scholar to be its head. An envoy, Chang Chien, was sent to Central Asia and brought back two famous pieces of music. With them, the work of was improved and made rapid progress.
Wu-ti himself won a high literary reputation. But, besides poetry, he ex celled in strategy, and surrounded him self with many brilliant military minds. He stemmed the torrent of barbarian invasion, pushing it back as far as the shore of the Caspian Sea.
The tribes raided Chinese territories in search of plunder, such as silk stuff and other portable items. Their light cavalry moved rapidly, while the Chinese army, mostly infantry, was unfavorably structured for mobile warfare. Wu-ti realized this and himself employed cavalry. Perhaps that underlines his particular interest in the war-horse and horsemanship. Once a beautiful horse, presented by the Ta-won people of Central Asia, attracted the admiration of Wu-ti. He instantly made a musical verse:
The fleet horse from the far west
Has crossed terrain of ten thousand to come here.
My prestige has kept the foreign nations in awe,
And now crossed the deserts to bring a considerable number
Of barbarians here to submission.
Wu-ti ordered the musicians to perform it in the palace. A previous verse by the Emperor referred to a super natural horse, and was considered difficult for commoners to understand. This time he tried to write in an easily under stood manner.
As he subjugated the barbarians, the domain of Wu-ti became as large as that of the Roman Empire. But his government did not change and itself forts began to be clumsy. Throughout the country restless elements arose, some of whom even joined Prince Hwa-an in revolt. For the sake of national security, Wu-ti, being fond of poetry, now had recourse to it. In conjunction with cabinet meetings, he ordered a poetry meeting. The cabinet meeting was for the purpose of discussing political affairs, while the poetry was designed to sharpen and coordinate the thinking of the participants. Each participant was expected to offer a line. It worked out something like "link verse," with each line in exactly the same rhythm.
The great gathering took place ostensibly in celebration of the pacification of four areas and the country of Korea in 108 B.C. The gathering was in the Pailiang Tai, or Cedar-beam Terrace, newly built close to the palace. Only officials above the grade of prefect or lieutenant and above - all with profound knowledge of poetry-were allowed to take a seat with the sovereign. The participants totaled twenty-six, including Wu-ti him self. Creating the lead line, he chanted it himself, and the others carefully took note of the rhythm and intent, adding each his own line.
Wu-ti-Harmonious are the four seasons with the host of the heaven.
Prince Liang- Taking a four-horse chariot, I rode across country to attend the meeting.
Grand Minister of War- Under my command the imperial infantry and cavalry are reliable guards.
Premier-I encounter many difficulties in directing national affairs.
Commanding General- To pacify the barbarians within the journey is not an easy task.
According to official rank, the others continued. Each created a line on a subject in connection with his duty; lines covered censorship, imperial family regulations, duties of a justice, food production and preservation, international assemblies, etc.
Provincial magistrates and a mayor added to the verse. Almost no one painted a beautiful picture. Two adjacent counties and the metropolis combined were called or the Tri Protection Area, in which Changan, the capital was located. From the following three lines the general situation of these regions will be seen: Left County Magistrate- The bandits in Sanfu threaten the imperial peace. Right County Magistrate- The bri gands blocking Nansan cause harm to the people. Mayor- The wai chia and the princesses are difficult to pacify.
The conduct of the relatives of the imperial family) and the four princesses was outrageous. During the Han dynasty, relations between men and women were not as strict as in later generations. This was also the case in the imperial family.
So that in the next to the last line of this famous link verse, we find the light comment by a court favorite of Emperor Wu-ti:
Retainer Kuo-A bite of princess' lip is as sweet as sugar.
To that moment, politics were serious. There was even criticism of the and princesses. The retainer- perhaps with premeditation-changed the solemn atmosphere with his comment on the princess.
Poetry had lost its one-time function as a diplomatic vehicle for international negotiation, and had now turned to the other channels. The great gathering was poetical in name, but political in fact. Produced in the magnificent building close to the palace, such poetry has been called, following the building's name, Pailiang Tai verse. Its peculiar style has been imitated in later ages during various dynasties and by noted scholars.