Chinese Classics · Selection of Time-Honored Writings. Yuefu Poetry Collection

Author: Guo Maoqian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
Features: The Gufang Shiji preserves a vast amount of excellent folk songs. It includes eight volumes of Qingshang Quci reflecting Jiangnan Wu songs, Chu folk songs, and northern outstanding folk songs, as well as five volumes of Hengqiu Quci. There are eighteen volumes of Zahu Quci that convey ancient satire, critique of contemporary issues, sorrow, frustration, and love-themed depictions, and eleven volumes of Xinyuefu Ci. Additionally, there are twelve volumes of Jiaotemple Quci for court music, imperial banquets, archery ceremonies, and ancestral rites.
The Gufang Shiji comprises one hundred volumes, categorized into twelve classes based on the origin, purpose, and musical systems of the Yuefu poems, spanning from the Han and Wei dynasties to the Five Dynasties period, with over ten songs from before the Qin dynasty also included. In addition to feudal court music, it preserves a large number of lyrics from folk music. Among the categories such as Xianghe, Qingshang, Zahu, and Xinyuefu, there are particularly many outstanding works.
The Gufang Shiji follows the principle of placing ancient texts before imitations for each title, ensuring that all formats of a single tune are covered without repetition, thereby preventing the pitfalls of plagiarism and superficial imitation. The ancient texts are often listed first, followed by those altered by the music, allowing readers to discern which are ce (side verses), yan (ornamentary verses), qu (accelerated verses), or (additions or deletions of characters). For those whose musicality does not align with the lyrics, annotations are provided below the titles, further addressing the issue of awkward imitation.