A New Study of Romantic Lyrics by OUYANG Xiu: His Dual Personality

As a literary master, OUYANG Xiu had composed a large amount of romantic lyrics which have received a lot of comments. His lyrics can be classified into three groups: the romantic records of his arrogant early years, the indirect description of literati and officialdom, and the expression of feminism. We can find traces of his real life and complicated internal world in all these three groups. Behind the veil of all these romantic lyrics stands a real and cubic poet. This is not contradictory with his identity as a leading master in literary circle and a outstanding minister. His infatuation in geishas and love for the composition of romantic lyrics are not the expression of his dual personality, but are closely related with his childhood experience and the environment he grew in