Museum of Poetry and Art

Museum of Poetry and Art

[Museum of Poetry and Art]

Step along a wooden boardwalk to enter the China Luojiang Modern Poetry Museum, an important attraction in the “Spring Breeze Ten Miles” scenic area, nestled among the lush pines and cypresses of Xiulong Mountain. I guess many of you may be wondering: As the first modern poetry museum in China, why was it built in Luojiang, Sichuan? And within Luojiang, why on Xiulong Mountain in Lüoping? Please allow me to explain it to you step by step.

It is said that in the year 301 AD, Li Te, the leader of the Cong people originally from Bashu Commandery, heard that this place exuded the aura of a future king, so he led refugees from six commanderies to set up camp here. Later, his son Li Xiong led a rebel army to capture Chengdu, declared himself king the following year, and ascended the throne as emperor in 306 AD, establishing the state of Cheng, which lasted three generations for 41 years. It is regarded as the earliest state to achieve great accomplishments during the “Sixteen Kingdoms period of the Six Dynasties,” and during that time, the first folk song passed down by the descendants of the people of Bashu—“The Ancient Bashan Song”—was born: “At Douzishan, they beat tile drums; at Yangping Pass, they scatter white liquor; when dark rain falls, they marry the dragon maiden; she weaves silk, twenty-five feet long, half for Luojiang, half for Xuanwu.” Therefore, this is the homeland of poetry, the fertile soil of verse—thus the decision to build the China Luojiang Modern Poetry Museum here. Now, please follow me to discover the unique charm of the Poetry Museum together.

The China Luojiang Modern Poetry Museum is divided into three parts: the first is the exhibition hall, the second is the display room, and the third is the multifunctional hall. From an aerial view, the exhibition hall resembles a giant footprint, symbolizing the mark left by poetry throughout history, inspiring us to carry on the legacy and promote poetry along this path. The multifunctional hall, when seen from above, looks like a heart, symbolizing the eternal beating of poets’ love for poetry and their unending pursuit, and it also serves as a venue for poetry seminars and academic exchanges.

The preface of the China Luojiang Modern Poetry Museum is inscribed in the handwriting of the renowned poet Niu Han. In today’s market-driven society, discussing literature and poetry might seem like a refined interest of literati, but we live in a poetic nation—how can we refuse the nourishment of poetry or resist its charm?

The content of the exhibition hall mainly covers the development of modern poetry. We have divided it into three time periods: The first decade (1917–1927) marks the early exploration phase of modern poetry, including its inception and the period of poetic technique exploration. Important schools that emerged during this time include the “Little Poems” school, Lakeside Poetry School, Crescent Moon Poetry School, early Symbolism, and early proletarian poetry, with representative poets such as Jiang Guangci’s “New Dreams” and “Loyal to China”; Next is the second decade of modern poetry (1928–1937), during which Chinese new poetry entered a new historical phase, showing two different development trends—the popularization and the elitism of poetry. Key schools included the Late Crescent Moon School and the Modernist Poetry School, while the Chinese Poetry Society advocated achieving a “new understanding” of poetry; Then comes the content of the third decade of modern poetry’s development—please feel free to browse through them one by one.

In 2006, the renowned female poet Shu Ting, who attended the First China Luojiang Poetry Festival, was deeply moved by the rich poetic atmosphere here and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Even the wind here blows with the essence of poetry.” The famous poet Ye Yanbin said, “The poetry of Luojiang is the most beautiful.” The eminent poet Shang Zhen remarked, “When Luojiang turns green, spring arrives across the land.” And the well-known poet Jidi Majia stated, “The hosting of the China Luojiang Poetry Festival is of great significance, both for the future of Chinese poetry history and for further enlivening Chinese poetic culture.” Please feel free to explore the display rooms and multifunctional hall on your own. You may also take a quiet path to the Pine Forest Book Bar, brew yourself a cup of tea, and freely paint or compose poetry there, immersing yourself in the breath of nature.

Source: Public Information Website of Luojiang County People's Government