Wan Jia Ci Fu

Author: Zhang Zhijiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: After the high-singing of "Chuci" (Songs of Chu) in the late Warring States period, the fu (a classical Chinese prose form) gradually rose to prominence with the development of medieval literature. Before the emergence of novels and dramas, writers' most strenuous creative efforts were devoted to the fu. The fu could endure meticulous carving and even the expenditure of one's heart and soul. The fu required imaginative thinking that "controlled the heavens and earth, and interwove past and present," a grand vision that "encompassed the universe and surveyed all figures," and meticulous craftsmanship that "wove silk threads into text and arranged brocade as substance." Therefore, in the vast collections of ancient literature, the fu always stood majestically at the beginning of the volumes. The primary purpose of the fu was to describe things, such as music, dance, architecture, gardens, science and technology, acrobatics, textiles, as well as puppetry, chess, tug-of-war, horse racing, and various rituals, customs, and clothing styles. The fu could extensively draw upon these elements to supplement the shortcomings of historical records. It could also vividly depict all kinds of pests and rodents that could not be found in poetry or painting, as well as the wind, flowers, snow, and moon, beautiful women, great birds, and fierce eagles, in all their diversity. The selections in this book are primarily focused on the fu, but also include the "ci" (another classical Chinese poetic form), to show the evolution and changes of ci and fu. It could also be called "ci and fu," as the term "ci" has long been used to refer to "fu" since the Han Dynasty to the present day. The selected works include both grand masterpieces and concise micro-fu. Some lengthy pieces are excerpted, and the explanations are provided in the notes. A total of 90 authors and 130 pieces are included, covering renowned masterpieces from various dynasties, forming a substantial collection.