National Classics -- Ci

Author: Wu Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: If poetry is the language of the celestial beings who have descended to the mortal world, then ci (a form of Chinese poetry) is the singing of the mountain spirits who wander through the mortal realm. "Looking sideways with grace" and "subtle and elegant," from the wine banquets of the Tang Dynasty to the private chambers of the Five Dynasties, from the literary gatherings of the Song people to the study rooms of the Qing people, that winding and elusive melody has fluttered for a thousand years, singing of the pervasive melancholy of life. After poetry gradually succumbed to the rationality of expressing ideals and moral teachings, and before humanity lost the patience for meditation, countless lonely souls danced along to this melody, their jade pendants tinkling. As if from the very source of peach blossom spring water, the clear spring that gathered emotions began to dry up overnight. The once tireless voice gradually fell silent, and the new clamor drowned out the former splendor. In the face of enforced aging, we did not hear a single sigh. It was recklessness that led to the vast desolation, and the fleeting forgetfulness easily buried the long-standing glory. Those ancient rhythms and images have become strange to us, yet the frozen emotions remain so sincere. It quietly waits, silently revealing its unparalleled tragic beauty through its proud decline, and believes that we will finally find that eternal fragrance amidst the rubble we have ourselves created.
In this book of just over 200,000 words, we hope to present as comprehensively as possible the charm of ci—a great literary form—and attempt to recreate its hazy and ethereal silhouette through modern understanding.
In Part One, we have compiled a brief history of ci, which originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Song Dynasty, declined in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and was revived in the Qing Dynasty, in order to give readers a holistic impression of the form.
In Part Two, we have selected representative ci poets and their works from various dynasties, adopting an inspirational approach to appreciation, in hopes of outlining the deep and delicate beauty of the ci form.
In Part Three, we introduce some basic terms and knowledge about ci, which will not only deepen readers' understanding of the form but also help every enthusiast engage in practical creation.