Walking in the Cities of the Song Dynasty: A Chronicle of Song Dynasty Urban Life

Author: Yi Yongwen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Narrating the lingering tales from imperial palaces to bustling streets, vividly recreating the diverse aspects of traditional Chinese life. How to equip students with knowledge conducive to a deeper understanding of classical literature, thereby advancing the study of classical literature, is a challenge faced by classical literature educators. Inspired by this, the author has chosen the relationship between Song, Yuan, and Ming literature and urban social life as the research field, frequently exploring both within and beyond this domain through interdisciplinary studies. This book is a product of such reflections. The author adheres to the principle of "speaking truth to power"—placing the lives of Song Dynasty urbanites on a solid foundation of evidence and elaborating upon it, but not merely listing materials. Instead, the approach involves specific analysis of particular issues through micro-studies, following the scientific methodology of "generalizing from the particular," gradually gaining insights into the research subject and forming one's own perspectives. The expression of these insights can be achieved through various means, with the choice depending on the researcher's academic background. To popularize the research findings, the author has adopted a style that combines poetry, illustrations, text, and historical records, supplemented by narrative prose. In this book, historical events and proofs are presented through poetry, and the urban social life of the Song Dynasty is identified and interpreted using illustrations and tomb artifacts from the era. The author strives for a unique research method and writing style, avoiding lengthy citations of historical documents or detailed bibliographic references. Instead, various historical records, including unofficial histories, local chronicles, and tales, are integrated into a cohesive whole, aiming to convey the hardships in simple terms and transform the profound into the ordinary, catering to the reading preferences of students and the general public. From a professional standpoint, the events and allusions described in the book are well-documented, with every word grounded in historical sources. The content has been meticulously reviewed, making the book valuable for experts seeking useful materials and for general readers seeking broader cultural knowledge. As Professor Liang Gengyao, a renowned Song Dynasty historian from Taiwan University, remarked upon the book's initial publication: "Such works can promote historical knowledge while maintaining academic rigor. Moreover, they require long-term effort to achieve meaningful results, which is no easy task." The section titled 'Fire Disaster' can be considered a short academic paper, analyzing the causes of urban fires and offering valuable insights. When read in conjunction with the following section 'Firefighting System,' it becomes even more meaningful. These expert opinions reflect the depth and representativeness of the book's characteristics. The illustrations used in the book are adapted from reproductions of Song Dynasty images in other works, as well as clear line drawings based on archaeological reports and unearthed artifacts. The primary sources for these images include: Shilin Guangji and selected Song Dynasty local chronicles, Zhenghe Bencao Tujing, Santai Tuhui, Wenwu, Song and Yuan Drama Artifacts and Folk Customs, The Homeland of the Dragon, Song Dynasty Court Painting Style, Baisha Song Tombs, Everyday Elegance, Comprehensive History of Chinese Customs, History of Chinese Clothing, Ancient Chinese Clothing History, Research on Ancient Chinese Clothing, Masterpieces of Chinese Art, Illustrated History of Ancient Chinese Sports, History of Ancient Chinese Architecture, History of Chinese Urban Planning, Glory of Ancient China, Fuhixian's Paintings and Calligraphy Appraisal Collection, and Wang Shiyang's Collected Works of Cicada.