A Poetry Fan

A 16-year-old student, Wu Yishu, impressed audiences very much with her wide knowledge of classical poetry and won the final round of Chinese Poetry Conference’s second season, standing out from 100 poetry enthusiasts from all ages and walks of life. China Central Television’s first poetry-themed TV show, Chinese Poetry Conference, aims to promote classical poetry in today’s modern era through competition. As a student from the High School Affiliated to Fudan University, Wu loves wearing clothes similar to those worn during the Han Dynasty. With her straight black hair, arched eyebrows and bright eyes, Wu is widely seen as the “perfect image of a talented woman from ancient times”. Aside from her great knowledge and understanding of various lines of poetry, what has earned Wu the most praise was her calm and modest behavior during the competition. During a part of the show, Feihualing — an ancient drinking game often played by scholars in ancient China — in which she went up against the previous round’s champion, Wu recited a line of poetry that her competition had used earlier. After the hostess pointed this out, Wu quickly recited another line from the Book of Poetry, the oldest extant collection of Chinese poetry, without hesitation. Her quick and calm reaction made her famous overnight. “Her heart has absorbed the charm of poetry. Wu is also modest. She just stands there, calm and relaxed. She makes you feel a poetic feeling just by being there,” said Meng Man, one of the show’s judges. Wu regarded Lu You, a poet of the Song Dynasty as her idol, so her love for classical Chinese poetry is easy to explain. She said that she just enjoyed the aesthetics and deep emotions contained in those poems, from which she can observe the happy moments in life, with ancient verse teaching us how to treat life’s challenges and frustrations with a smile.