“On and on the Times Move”: Tao Yuanming on the (Im)possibilities of Utopia

Tao Yuanming’s poem “Time Moves On” is in close dialogue with Analects 11.26 where Kongzi asks his disciples about their aspirations. Of the four in attendance, the first three profess goals of statecraft. Only Zengxi speaks about his desire to escape from the situation and enjoy time with good company. After hearing all four disciples’ wishes Kongzi stated, “I’m with Zengxi.” Like Kongzi, Tao is with Zengxi. Utopias exist outside of time. They are imaginative reconceptualizations of the present. In “Time Moves On” there is a longing for a time that never was; a time Kongzi could only imagine. Tao Yuanming continually imagines alternatives to the present in his poetry to express his discontent with the present. This presentation will explore two of his imaginings in the context of the Analects and other early Chinese literature. I will also discuss interventions that Tao’s utopias make in utopian studies.