The Twenty Four Poems “is an ancient poetry aesthetic and theoretical monograph compiled by Sikong Tu (some say Li Sizhen) in the Tang Dynasty. It is also a literary work of criticism – a set of beautiful scenery four character poems that use various images to compare and contrast different poetic styles, which is quite impressive and establishes a special genre in poetry criticism.
《二十四诗品》是唐代司空图（一说李嗣真）编著的一部古代诗歌美学和诗歌理论专著，本身也是批评的文学作品——一组美丽的写景四言诗，用种种形象来比拟、烘托不同的诗格风格，颇得神貌，并在诗歌批评中建立了一种特殊的体裁。
司空图·《二十四诗品·雄浑》
大用外腓，真体内充。
反虚入浑，积健为雄。
具备万物，横绝太空。
荒荒油云，寥寥长风。
超以象外，得其环中。
持之非强，来之无穷。
Energy-Absolute
Expenditure of force leads to outward decay,
Spiritual existence means inward fullness.
Let us revert to Nothing and enter the Absolute,
Hoarding up strength for Energy,
Freighted with eternal principles,
Athwart the mighty void,
Where cloud-masses darken,
And the wind blows ceaseless around,
Beyond the range of conceptions,
Let us gain the Centre,
And there hold fast without violence,
Fed from an inexhaustible supply.
