Candle Bearer (Lingshan Poetry Community Series)

Shangyao County in Jiangxi is a numinous and blessed place that boasts illustrious talents, long history and glorious culture. It was established in the first year of Jian'an in Eastern Han dynasty (196), dating back over 1800 years, during which Shangyao County developed brilliant culture. In the last years of Eastern Han, the hermit genius Hu Zhao sailed southward to Lingshan Mountain for Taoist cultivation, which marked the beginning of Taoist culture in Lingshan Mountain, Shangyao; Lu Yu, the "e;Sage of Tea"e; in Tang dynasty stayed in Shangyao and developed "e;Culture of Tea"e;; Wang Zhenbai, the Tang writer wrote "e;I am immersed in reading without realizing it is already well into spring, an inch of time is worth an inch of gold"e;, which had become a proverb about the value of time cited in the past as in the present; Zhu Xi, the Southern Song Neo-Confucianist used to gave lectures in Shangyao to promote Neo-Confucianism and academies, his disciple Chen Wenwei being the torchbearer of "e;Yuzhang School"e;' Xin Qiji, the Southern Song poet traveled to Shangyao and wrote "e;The ricefields' sweet smell promises a bumper year; Listen, how frogs' croaks please the ear!"e; The image of ricefield catches the imagination of many readers; Xu Yuanjie, the Southern Song zhuangyuan scholar and writer authored the 12-volume Collected Works of Zhu Yuanjie, which was incorporated into the Complete Library in the Four Branches of Literature; the Ming grand secretary Zheng Yiwei, the incorruptible official Yang Shiqiao, the Neo-Confucianist Lou Liang and modern entomologist Yang Weiyi, etc.were all exemplary learned figures. In addition, luminaries such as Ge Hong, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Li Desheng, Liu Taizhen, Wang Anshi, Lu You, Hong Mai, Yang Wanli, Han Yuanji, Lv Zuqian, Zhao Mengfu, Xia Yan and Ye Ting also made special trips to Shangyao and left many famous pieces that won universal praise, which became part of the cultural heritages and spiritual wealth of the county. Baojia Gold Mine Site, Gong Family Ancestral Hall's memorial archway and the stone carving featuring opera Washing Gauze have been listed as Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Shanglu Culture Courtyard, and the Taoist site Shiren Hall, among other splendid cultural heritages bear witness to the cultural prosperity in Shangyao. Shiren lanterns, suona horn in Qingshui, Shiren folk orchestra, Xinhe luantan opera in Jiangxi opera, among other intangible cultural heritages are enjoying a revival. The 2240-square-kilometre Shangyao County is enriched by layers of history. The wealth of culture contributes to the abundance of literary talents in the county.Lingshan Mountain, a national scenic area in northern Shangyao has been hailed as the "e;33th Blessed Land under Heaven"e; and "e;Most Numinous Mountain in the World"e; by the Taoist canon Seven Slips of Cloudy Satchel in Tang dynasty, not only for its outstanding natural scenery, but also its unique efficacious culture and faith. Since Tang and Song, Lingshan Mountain has been celebrated by poets and writers who praised its magic in literary pieces and acclaimed its beauty in paintings and poems. Lingshan Mountain is Shangyao's "e;mother mountain"e;. Locals call themselves "e;children of Lingshan Mountain"e; and take pride in it. The community of poets in Shangyao County thus are also referred to as the "e;Lingshan Poetry Community"e;. It is very appropriate that we name this five-volume series "e;Lingshan Poetry Community"e; too. The five poets for the series are selected from the large community of poets. Based in their hometown, they explore the terrain, nature, history and figures in Shangyao, and integra...