Three Hundred Yuan Qu Poems

Author: Guangling Shushe Biann
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-09-01
Features: Yuanqu, together with Tang poetry and Song ci, is known as one of the three pillars of Chinese literature, standing as a magnificent achievement in the history of Chinese literary culture. Generally, Yuanqu is believed to consist of two parts: zaju (a form of drama) and sanqu (a form of lyric poetry). Zaju is a dramatic form, while sanqu, like poetry and ci, is a derivative of poetry, serving as another form of lyrical expression. The currently available selections of Yuanqu are mostly collections of sanqu, and this book is no exception, focusing solely on sanqu.
Originating from the folk culture, Yuanqu is characterized by its simplicity, direct emotional expression, wit, and accessibility, earning the reputation of being "poetic solemnity, lyrical charm, and qu humor." Sanqu primarily includes two forms: xiaoling (short qu) and taqu (extended qu). Xiaoling refers to individual qu pieces composed in various tunes. Common tunes include Zhenggong, Zhonglue, Nanlue, Xianlue, Huangzhong, Dashi, Shuangdiao, Shangdiao, and Yuetao, collectively known as the "Five Gongs and Four Tunes" (also referred to as the "Nine Gongs"). Each tune has a specific name, such as "Shanpo Yang," "Shanxianzi," "Luomeifeng," "Buduan," and "Chenjiu Dongfeng," among others.
The themes of Yuanqu are diverse, covering a wide range of social content, with the most prominent being landscape poetry, historical odes, social critique, reclusion, and the portrayal of romantic love and female grievances. These works have reached a certain level of artistic and ideological depth, serving as models for literature of that era and enduring through time. Statistics show that there are over two hundred Yuanqu authors with known names, and more than four thousand qu pieces have been preserved. This book collects three hundred and ten qu pieces from over seventy renowned Yuanqu authors, spanning a broad range of themes and rich content, embodying the essence of Yuanqu.
The book is published in the traditional bound-form, with exquisite printing and elegant binding, making it both easy to read and collect. It is expected to be well-received by readers.