Abstract: In the construction of modern Chinese poetics of imagery,the critics mainly discussed the functions of imagery from the following aspects:conveyance of beauty of poem,accumulation of strength,presentation of poetic quality,and function of intermediary agent.Conveyance of beauty of poem refers that imagery can convey visual beauty,auditory beauty and connotative beauty;accumulation of strength refers  that imagery is full of strength and vitality and contains great potential;presentation of poetic quality refers that imagery is the most basic and important element of poem and it distinguishes poem from other arts;function of intermediary agent refers that imagery is not only an intermediary agent connecting feeling and emotion,but also an intermediary agent combining the author and outside world.

Key words: China, modern, poetics, function of imagery