Affective Responsiveness as Substance: Ma Yifu's Theory of Poetic Creation

Abstract

This "Gan wei ti" (Affective Responsiveness as Substance) is the core concept of Ma Yifu's poetics. Centered on this concept, Ma
Yifu articulated his systematic understanding of the activity of poetic creation. Poetic creation is the spontaneous expression of genuine feeling naturally flowing from the poet's spiritual horizon and capacity of mind a feeling endowed with the breadth of the historical and the
depth of the metaphysical. The activity of poetic creation manifests as reciprocal affective resonance among human beings, and between
human beings and things. It is the unity of composing poetry and learning through poetry, with the ultimate aim of "extirpating vulgar afflictions" and unfolding the mind-nature inherent in every person. Ma Yifu's elucidation of poetic creation offers significant insight for reexamining the function and value of poetry.