浙西詞派論詞旨趣向以清空騷雅詞風及取法姜夔、張炎為典範著稱,開山宗主朱彝尊卻將引領此風氣的冠冕給了鄉前輩曹溶,指出康熙詞壇「家白石而戶玉田」的榮景,認為「風氣之變,實由先生」。然則,若從詞體認知、具體批評與創作實踐幾個角度,重新檢視曹溶與浙西詞派的關係,可知二者的差異不小,尤其表現在對「雅」與「南宋詞」的理解上。曹溶重性靈而反對雕琢,對姜、張為首之典雅詞並不特別偏好,反而認為詞體為情感之容器,而人各有性情,無須專尚一家,宜轉益多師。曹溶在朱彝尊習詞初期雖曾發揮影響,但整體來說論詞主張更接近陽羨詞派陳維崧,引領風氣之變,殆源於朱彝尊刻意的推崇與誤讀。
The West Zhejiang School was known for its ethereal and elegant style, and learning from Jiang Kui and Zhang Yan. It's also one of the three influential Ci schools in the Qing Dynasty. As the leader, Zhu Yizun say that Cao Rong is pioneer to guide the transformation of the civic atmosphere to learm of Jiang Yan and Zhang Yan. But, Reviewing the relationship between Cao Rong and West Zhejiang Poetry School members again, they are not exactly in Form and style of Ci, including Commentary and writing. Especially in Elegant Ci of Southern Song. Cao Rong does not like the style of poems headed by Jiang Kui and Zhang Yan, because he believes that words should express emotion, and each person's temperament is different, so it is best to learn from multiple sources. Although Cao Rong exerted influence in the early stage of Zhu Yizun's study of word style, his view on word style was closer to that of Yangxian Ci School Chen Weisong. To lead the change of literary atmosphere, it should be due to Zhu Yizun's deliberate admiration and misreading.