Lu You's Patriotic Poetry (1160s)

Timeline

1. 1163–1164Lin'an · Zhejiang ProvinceAfter the Longxing Northern Expedition faltered and Zhang Jun died of illness, the peace faction at court gained the upper hand. Lu You repeatedly submitted memorials advocating the recovery of the Central Plains while in office, but they were not adopted; he therefore vented his feelings in poetry, such as "Ganfen" ("Moved to Indignation") and "Shufen" ("Expressing Grievance"), directly stating his ambition for the northern expedition and criticizing powerful ministers who ruined the country.
2. 1164–1169Various posts in Jiangnan · ChinaAfter the Longxing Peace Agreement was signed, Song and Jin returned to a standoff. Lu You held successive posts in the provinces and at court, and his poetry grew ever more somber, repeatedly lamenting the rivers and mountains of the old realm, the hardships of garrison duty, and the regret of having no way to serve his country, forming the mature keynote of his patriotic poetic style.