Ru Shu Ji is regarded as the pinnacle of a diary-style travelogue of the Song Dynasty, meeting qualified for profound literary, historical, and cultural values. It is the representative work of a diary-style travel journal in the Song Dynasty, reflect...
Ru Shu Ji is regarded as the pinnacle of a diary-style travelogue of the Song Dynasty, meeting qualified for profound literary, historical, and cultural values. It is the representative work of a diary-style travel journal in the Song Dynasty, reflecting the humanistic value by combining descriptions of nature, humanity, and culture.
Lu You vividly portrayed the natural landscapes and local lifestyles encountered on his journey. He expressed respect for historical figures and sites and emphasized patriotic ideals. By ascertaining historical events and sites, Lu You attributed the fall of the Southern Tang Dynasty to the incompetence of its monarch and officials, linking this critique to the reality of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Additionally, Ru Shu Ji provides a comprehensive account of the regional cultures of the Southern Song period, including agriculture, clothing, housing, tea culture, and local customs, distinctly capturing the era’s essence. This piece transcends the boundaries of a precedent travelogue, serving as a significant resource for reexamining the convergent values of Song Dynasty literature, and history, and constructing the cultural memory.