元稹《代曲江老人百韵》诗作年质疑

Some Doubts about the Written Time of YUAN Zhen's Poetry Hundred Lines in the Name of the Old Man By the Meandering River

根据诗体、题材、用语等多方面的证据来看,《代曲江老人百韵》“年十六时作”之说很可能是作者元稹 本人提供的不可靠之词。当然,这一点并不必然涉及作者的人品“污点”,而是与唐人普遍“好大言”的风气有关。

After the study of the poetry Hundred Lines in the Name of the Old Man By the Meandering River on form and theme and diction of the poetry, we are inclined to doubt YUAN Zhen's statement “This poetry is written at the age of sixteen.” However, it does not necessarily lead us to a hasty conclusion that YUAN Zhen was lying. It only reflects the fact that the people in the Tang Dynasty used to like to brag.