Depiction of Tao Yuanming (Study of the Culture in Mount Lu Series Vol. 5)

If Tao Yuanming and his poetic works are a real object (hereafter referred to as "e;real Taoyuanming"e;), then later generations' understanding, interpretation and reception of him is a constant process of understanding this real object. There is always discrepancy between the result of knowledge and object of knowledge. Different subjects of knowledge lead to variable result of knowledge. It is a simple theory. There is a term for the various results of knowledge: depiction. Originally depiction means the image shown by reflecting light, which is different from the real object. As Edmund Husserl, German philosopher and founder of the 20th century phenomenology stated in Logical Investigations and the first volume of Ideas Pertaining to a Pure Phenomenology and to a Phenomenological Philosophy, all imaginary activities are "e;depiction"e; or "e;reflection"e; of the original object that can only show itself in perception. Hence to some degree it is only a "e;copy"e; of the original object, or an "e;image"e; about the original object, not the original thing per se. This philosophical theory can inspire us to reflect on the relationship between the "e;real Tao Yuanming"e; and the understanding and reception of Tao Yuanming of later generations, which can be thus referred to as "e;depiction of Tao Yuanming"e;.Generally speaking, "e;depiction of Tao Yuanming"e;, though different from the "e;real Tao Yuanming"e;, cannot change the nature of Tao Yuanming. Like iron ore is reduced to iron. The form of iron compound is changed, but the iron element does not disappear. However in some few cases, there can be depiction that disregards the nature of Tao Yuanming and is divorced from the "e;real Tao Yuanming"e; (for instance, during the "e;Cultural Revolution"e; Tao Yuanming was given the title "e;anti-realist poet"e;). As the reception history in the past 1500 years was written by numerous individuals in different time and spaces, the knowledge of different temporal and spatial sources can restrict and modify one another. An omnipotent power sometimes appears, but is not constant; the impact of certain time and space on the "e;depiction of Tao Yuanming"e; does exist, but its existence is not permanent. So the "e;depiction of Tao Yuanming"e; as defined by times, authority and specific scenarios is capable of change under new temporal and spatial conditions. Those grotesque and biased "e;depiction of Tao Yuanming"e; will be nullified and abandoned in new temporal and spatial environment. Hence the comparative and adjustive effects among different "e;depictions of Tao Yuanming"e;, which will generate some commonly agreed "e;depictions of Tao Yuanming"e;. These commonly agreed "e;depictions of Tao Yuanming"e; differ from individual knowledge in that they can reflect the nature of Tao Yuanming more objectively.