Modern Social Science Research

Qiji was a renowned poet-monk of the late Tang Dynasty, proficient in both poetic artistry and Zen philosophy. Possessing the dual identity of a literati and a monk, his poetry exhibits two artistic styles: that of a scholar’s verse and that of Zen poetry. Qiji integrated Zen practice into daily life, with Zen poetry constituting a significant portion of his works, necessitating an in-depth exploration of the Zen connotations within his poems. Many of Qiji’s poems articulate the relationship between poetry and Zen, which is both unified and contradictory. The unity between composing poetry and practicing Zen is reflected in the following aspects: both poetry and Zen emphasize tranquility. Qiji studied both the Northern and Southern Schools of Zen, engaging daily in seated meditation to enter a state of Zen concentration, calming his mind in contemplation. Through persistent mental discipline, he purified his heart like an immaculate mirror, undisturbed by external distractions, achieving a state of clarity and serenity. Writing poetry in such a tranquil state allowed him to produce excellent verses. Both poetic inspiration and Zen enlightenment arise spontaneously, emerging suddenly at certain moments. Additionally, both Zen insights and poetry are expressed subtly and implicitly. The contradiction lies in the fact that Zen Buddhism advocates "not relying on words and letters, transmitting teachings beyond scriptures," rejecting dependence on language for conveying truth, whereas poetry must rely on words to express meaning. At times, the "poetry demon" interfered with Zen practice—just as he focused on meditation, thoughts of composing poetry would arise, disrupting his Zen discipline. Qiji recognized the tension between poetry and Zen and skillfully reconciled it.

Late Tang Dynasty; Qiji; Poetic-Zen Perspective; Zen Buddhism