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geography and cultures supplant those of battle. In addition, the Tang frontier, while often a violent and
confrontational region, did experience periods of peace and beneficial economic exchange, neither of
which are characteristic settings for poems about combat and war. Confining “frontier poetry” to
“poems about frontier war” becomes even less tenable when confronted with poems whose ideological
fulcrum balances the complexities inherent in the hankerings of political advancement through frontier
service with the pain of parting from loved ones when such a course to success was charted.
48
According to Hu, frontier poetry as a stable subgenre evinces further fissures when declarations
of dedication to the country (baoguo 报 国 ) are cited as a generic pillar. 5 Two major variants of attitude
emerge when such bold announcements are probed for their generic value: expressions of serving one's
country which are steeped in self concern, and expressions which include reflections upon the effects
such patriotic sacrifices demand of those militarily involved in the country's well-being. Hu cites the
latter half of Gao Shi's “Upon the Frontier” (“Sai Shang” 塞 上 ) as a prototypical example of the former
stance, that of a self-serving dedication to one's country:
惟 昔 李 将 军
按 节 临 此 都
总 戎 扫 大 漠
一 战 擒 单 于
常 怀 感 激 心
愿 效 纵 横 谟
倚 剑 欲 谁 语
6
关 河 空 郁 纡
Longing for the former days of General Li,
Holding tallies in his hand when leaving this capital.
He oversaw the army sweeping the enemy from the desert,
In one battle capturing the Xiongnu chief.
I often embraced feelings of gratitude,
I desire to emulate all manner of tactics.
Leaning on my sword, to whom will I speak?
Mountain pass and river meander off empty.
(lines 9-16)
The poet-narrator filters concern for the country's security through his own need for recognition, to
have his Li Guang inspired military strategies heard by another, perhaps even someone with the ability
5
Although this thesis does not consider the theme to be generically vital in conceiving of a broad understanding of
frontier poetry, its inclusion does have relevance nonetheless in the context of other categorical paradigms.
6
GSJJZ, p. 34.