Li Dongyang played an important role in the development of poetic theory during the Ming dynasty. By outlining his framework of poetics and his historical view of poetry, we can better understand the pivotal role he played in the history of Ming poetry. In the midst of the popularity of taigeti (officialese poetry), he formed his own style, called chaling school of poetry; he became the leader of the first and last band of sevens; and caused the entire Ming societal trend of returning to older classical poetry. With such an influential role, what concepts and values played a role in his poetic success? This paper attempts to answer this question by looking at his poetics and his historical view of poetry.