嵇志清峻，阮旨遥深Elevated Clarity, and Unfathom…

political climate in which he lived. Analogies, associations, and symbolism permeate his work, as does a penchant for using the past to satirize the present and for infusing emotions into inanimate objects. In this manner, Ruan Ji crafted a style that delves into the enigmatic and obscure, a profound approach that touches on the inexpressible aspects of melancholy, depression, bitterness, anxiety, sadness, and desolation. Ji Kang and Ruan Ji each forged their own way, defying the strictures of Confucianism to fully express their unique personalities. This liberated approach allowed them to access a profound understanding of life and history, one that was both expansive and unrestrained. Liu Xie's acclaim of Ji Kang and Ruan Ji's independent personalities and profound poetic prowess cemented their status as literary legends. Their works remain a source of inspiration for later scholars and word connoisseurs who have strived to emulate their esteemed oeuvre.


◎余与嵇康、吕安居止接近，其人并有不羁之才。然嵇志远而疏，吕心旷而放。（向秀《思旧赋（并序）》）

我与嵇康、吕安的行为举止接近，他们都有不为世俗所拘的非凡才华。不过嵇康志趣高远而疏阔于人事，吕安心胸旷达而高傲任性。

I am similar to Ji Kang and Lyu An in manners, both of whom had unbridled talent. However, Ji Kang had lofty aspirations and was inattentive to human affairs, while Lü An was broad-minded but proud and unrestrained. (Xiang Xiu: Ode to Bygone Days with Preface)

◎（晋中散嵇康诗）颇似魏文。过为峻切，讦直露才，伤渊雅之致。然托喻清远，良有鉴裁，亦未失高流矣。（钟嵘《诗品》卷中）

晋代中散大夫嵇康的诗，与魏文帝曹丕的风格颇为相似。只是过于严厉直切，直言批判，显露才能，有损深远高雅的情致；不过他的作品托物寄意明了高远，很有借鉴意义，也就不失为上乘佳作。

In the poetic verses of Courtier Ji Kang of the Jin Dynasty, there is an undeniable resemblance to the style of Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of Wei. Yet, Ji Kang's approach is marked by its biting sharpness, and he was unduly direct with outspoken criticism and in expressing his talent — though this directness somewhat detracts from the profound elegance that so typifies the genre. Nevertheless, his works are characterized by their clear and far-reaching metaphorical imagery, imbuing them with a quality that is both instructive and exemplary. They are, undeniably, first-rate. (Zhong Rong: The Critique of Poetry)