Cheng Lei 
Tao Yuanming 

Tao Yuanming is a famous poet in the history of Chinese literature and a giant in the history of thought and culture. His significance has transcended the boundaries of literature and history and has become a cultural phenomenon with rich implications. Tao Yuanming”s historical image can be described with several distinct labels: he is a hermit who does not admire honor and interests, a pastoral poet who drinks and appreciates chrysanthemums, and a farmer who returns with moon and lotus hoes. Through his preserved poems, we can see again: he is a wise man who sees through the world, a man who is blunt and truthful, and a proud man. The superposition of these complex images produces an indescribable charm and arouses strong resonance among people. According to their own feelings of the era, later generations enlarged the meaning of different aspects of Tao Yuanming and gradually shaped it into a classic personality idol, thus forming the cultural complex of Chinese people admiring and respecting Tao Yuanming. This book uses a set of short stories to outline the image of this cultural giant.