Echoes of a Lonely Tower: A Study of the “Li Ling Tower” Imagery in Qing Dynasty Poetry
Research Article
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Echoes of a Lonely Tower: A Study of the “Li Ling Tower” Imagery in Qing Dynasty Poetry

Xidan Huang 1*
1 Soochow University
*Corresponding author: huangxidan@alu.suda.edu.cn
Published on 26 November 2025
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LNEP Vol.116
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-535-6
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-536-3
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Abstract

“Li Ling Tower” appears as a literary imagery in a great number of Qing dynasty poems, but there is still a lack of systematic academic research on this topic. By using materials from the Database of Chinese Classics Ancient Books and adopting a mixed method of documentary research and textual analysis, this study explores Qing dynasty poems that include the “Li Ling Tower” imagery. It first traces the historical origins and literary traditions of this imagery, and then classifies the poems into four main thematic types: frontier travel poetry, farewell and remembrance poetry, epic and nostalgic poetry, and painting poetry. The research shows that the “Li Ling Tower” imagery is not only a typical geographical symbol of frontier, but also reflects poets’ contradictory views on the historical figure Li Ling, their strong longing for hometowns, and deep thoughts on the rise and fall of dynasties in history. The diverse writing strategies used in relevant poems combine geographical, emotional and historical dimensions, which makes these poems an important way to understand the spiritual world and historical awareness of Qing dynasty literati.

Keywords:

Li Ling Tower, Qing dynasty poetry, study of imagery, geographical lyricism

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Huang,X. (2025). Echoes of a Lonely Tower: A Study of the “Li Ling Tower” Imagery in Qing Dynasty Poetry. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,116,25-32.

References

[1]. Liu, Y. (2022) Research on Li Ling. Doctoral Thesis, Shanghai Normal University.

[2]. Liang, J. (2016) A Study of Li Ling Tai from the Perspective of Cultural Geography. Journal of Radio & TV University (Philosophy & Social Sciences), (01), 23–28.

[3]. Zhao, Q. (2014) The Study of Li Ling’s Literary Image from the Han to Song Dynasty. Doctoral Thesis, Hunan University.

[4]. Liu, X. (2023) The Re-shaping of Li Ling’s Image by Yuan Dynasty Literati: With a Discussion on the Artistic Characteristics of Yuan Dynasty Poetry on Li Ling. Young Literary Figures, (19), 112–116.

[5]. Zhao, Y. and Mi, Y. (2015) A Literary-Geographical Interpretation of the Shangdu Hucong Poems. Journal of Inner Mongolia University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 47(03), 11–15.

[6]. Sun, Y. (2022) A Study of Cao Rong’s Poetry. Doctoral Thesis, Nanjing Normal University.

[7]. Zhao, Y. (1988) Zhu Yizun and His Poetry. Bohai Academic Journal, (03), 27–33 + 15.

[8]. Hu, J. (2024) A Study on the Chanting Will Poems of Lingnan Surviving Adherent Poet Chen Gongyin from the Late Ming and Qing Dynasty. Doctoral Thesis, Yanbian University.

[9]. Wang, L. (2022) The Study on Jiang Xiangnan’s Literary Thoughts and His Poems and Articles. Doctoral Thesis, Ningxia University.

[10]. Jiang, W. (2019) Aesthetic Orientations of Surviving Adherent Literature in the Early Qing Dynasty. Chinese Culture Review, (02), 51–65.

References

[1]. Liu, Y. (2022) Research on Li Ling. Doctoral Thesis, Shanghai Normal University.

[2]. Liang, J. (2016) A Study of Li Ling Tai from the Perspective of Cultural Geography. Journal of Radio & TV University (Philosophy & Social Sciences), (01), 23–28.

[3]. Zhao, Q. (2014) The Study of Li Ling’s Literary Image from the Han to Song Dynasty. Doctoral Thesis, Hunan University.

[4]. Liu, X. (2023) The Re-shaping of Li Ling’s Image by Yuan Dynasty Literati: With a Discussion on the Artistic Characteristics of Yuan Dynasty Poetry on Li Ling. Young Literary Figures, (19), 112–116.

[5]. Zhao, Y. and Mi, Y. (2015) A Literary-Geographical Interpretation of the Shangdu Hucong Poems. Journal of Inner Mongolia University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 47(03), 11–15.

[6]. Sun, Y. (2022) A Study of Cao Rong’s Poetry. Doctoral Thesis, Nanjing Normal University.

[7]. Zhao, Y. (1988) Zhu Yizun and His Poetry. Bohai Academic Journal, (03), 27–33 + 15.

[8]. Hu, J. (2024) A Study on the Chanting Will Poems of Lingnan Surviving Adherent Poet Chen Gongyin from the Late Ming and Qing Dynasty. Doctoral Thesis, Yanbian University.

[9]. Wang, L. (2022) The Study on Jiang Xiangnan’s Literary Thoughts and His Poems and Articles. Doctoral Thesis, Ningxia University.

[10]. Jiang, W. (2019) Aesthetic Orientations of Surviving Adherent Literature in the Early Qing Dynasty. Chinese Culture Review, (02), 51–65.

Cite this article

Huang,X. (2025). Echoes of a Lonely Tower: A Study of the “Li Ling Tower” Imagery in Qing Dynasty Poetry. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,116,25-32.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceeding of ICSPHS 2026 Symposium: Urban Industrial Innovation and Resilience-oriented Regional Transformation

ISBN: 978-1-80590-535-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-536-3(Online)
Editor: Enrique Mallen, Xiaohui Hu
Conference website: https://www.icsphs.org/Hangzhou.html
Conference date: 29 December 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.116
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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