A World Derived from Taoyuan: Jianghu in the Su Brothers’ Writings

Abstract

The depiction of jianghu 江湖 (rivers and lakes) is a significant theme in classical Chinese literature. This term usually refers to the exile places of disgraced officials. However, the Su brothers—Su Shi 苏轼 and Su Zhe 苏辙—deliberately construct jianghu as a poetic space rich in cultural and humanistic landscapes in their writings, embodying a unique perspective among poets of the Song Dynasty. On the one hand, the Su brothers describe jianghu as a poetic realm where fish swim freely, and birds soar up high, a world adorned with beautiful landscapes, historical sites, interpersonal bonds, scholars in seclusion, local customs, and cultural relics. On the other hand, they realize that jianghu, often used by the court to exile convicts, is permeated with power networks extending from the capital, rendering it far from a haven. This paradoxical understanding reflects the Song Dynasty’s political environment and developments in transportation, communication, and commerce. Notably, Su Shi poetically links jianghu with taoyuan 桃源 (land of peach blossom), emphasizing that the waters of jianghu originated from this utopian source. The evolution from taoyuan to jianghu represents the spiritual and cultural extension that runs in the opposite direction of power extension.

Keywords

Su Shi / Su Zhe / jianghu / rivers and lakes / taoyuan / land of peach blossom

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2025 Higher Education Press