以李東陽為首的茶陵派在整個明代的復古運動扮演一個開路先鋒的角色，而此派的文學主張則以李東陽的《麓堂詩話》為理論綱領。大體而言，李東陽在詩論上繼承南宋嚴羽的論詩宗旨，力推李、杜，主張以盛唐為法，但其對於嚴羽所否定得那些「大歷以還」、「小乘」之詩皆不足取的這個觀點並沒有完全吸收，也就是說，他並沒有完全否定中唐至宋元的詩。李東陽在肯定中唐與宋代的名家，對於盛唐詩的發展，例如他稱讚中唐劉常卿「自成一格」、韓愈〈雪〉詩「冠絕古今」；稱讚宋代蘇軾「才甚高」之餘，同時也肯定了一些元詩的名家，如其讚趙孟頫「詩律清麗」，可見若單論李東陽是個崇唐抑宋者，實有過論之嫌。另外，從李東陽在《麓堂詩話》中對宋代諸家所做的評論，也可窺見李東陽每每為之「揚長避短」，由是推論，李東陽對於宋詩仍有所肯定，認為宋詩自有其長處，並且肯定那些改革變造自唐詩的全新風貌的作品，此外，他也坦承宋詩雖有缺失，但畢竟是少數，實不得以偏蓋全而否定。總之，李東陽還給宋詩一個較為客觀的面貌

As head Chaling sends take Li Dongyang in the entire Ming Dynasty to restore the old the movement to act a trailblazer's role, but this sends literature position take Li Dongyang ”Foothill Hall Notes on poets and poetry” as theory guiding principle. Says roughly, Li Dongyang discusses in the poem inherits Southern Song Dynasty Van Yu to discuss the poem objective, the strength pushes Li, Du, advocated take the glorious age of Tang poetry as the law, But it all denies these regarding Van Yu ”the big experience to return”, ”Hinayana” poem insignificance this viewpoint completely has not absorbed, In other words, he completely has not denied Tang Zhisong a Yuan poem. Li Dongyang in the affirmation Tang and Song Dynasty's famous expert, regarding the abundant Tang poem development, for example he commended Tang Liu Chang the minister ”from becomes a standard”, Han Yu ＜snow＞ the poem ”the crown jue ancient and modern”; Commended Song Dynasty Soviet horizontal wooden board on the front carriage body ”only then very high” -odd, simultaneously has also affirmed some Yuan Shi famous expert, if approves Zhao Meng Fu lithe rules of poetry to be simple and beautiful” , if obviously only discusses Li Dongyang is honors Tang Yisong, really has has discussed the suspicion. Moreover, from Li Dongyang in ”Foothill Hall Notes on poets and poetry” the commentary which does to Song Dynasty Zhu Jia, also may sneak a peek at Li Dongyang often ”to enhance strong points and avoid weaknesses” for it, by was the deduction, Li Dongyang has regarding Song Shireng affirmed, thought Song Shi the innate its strong point, and affirmed these reforms forged from the Tang poem brand-new style work, although in addition, he also acknowledged Song Shi to have the flaw, but was minority after all, the reality could not Ge Quaner deny. In brief, Li Dongyang returns to give back to Song Shi a more objective appearance