司空图（837年—907年），河中虞乡（今山西运城永济）人。字表圣，自号知非子，又号耐辱居士。晚唐诗人、诗论家。司空图成就主要在诗论，《二十四诗品》为不朽之作。《全唐诗》收诗三卷。
Sikong Tu (837-907 AD) was born in Yu Township, Hezhong (now Yongji, Yuncheng, Shanxi). His courtesy name is Saint, and he is also known as Zhifeizi or Naifenjushi. Late Tang poet and critic of poetry. Sikong Tu’s achievements mainly lie in poetry theory, and “Twenty Four Poems” is an immortal work. The Complete Collection of Tang Poetry consists of three volumes.
The Twenty Four Poems: Flowing “is the final theoretical work in the” Twenty Four Poems “by the Tang Dynasty poet Sikong Tu, which explores the aesthetic style of poetry. It mainly expresses that poetry should be in an endless state of movement and change like all things in the universe, and has profound implications.
司空图·《二十四诗品·流动》
若纳水輨，如转丸珠。
夫岂可道，假体如愚。
荒荒坤轴，悠悠天枢。
载要其端，载同其符。
超超神明，返返冥无。
来往千载，是之谓乎。
Motion
Like a whirling water-wheel,
Like rolling pearls,–
Yet how are these worthy to be named?
They are but illustrations for fools.
There is the mighty axis of Earth,
The never-resting pole of Heaven;
Let us grasp their clue,
And with them be blended in One,
Beyond the bounds of thought,
Circling for ever in the great Void,
An orbit of a thousand years,–
Yes, this is the key to my theme.
（Herbert A. Giles 译）
