Selected Lyrics of Xin Qiji

Author: Xin Gengru (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Xin Qiji was a great patriotic figure and an outstanding lyric poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. His lyrics represent the highest achievement of Southern Song lyric poetry. His powerful and heroic style is enough to inspire even the timid. The compiler of this book has long been engaged in in-depth research on the history of the Song Dynasty and is very familiar with the historical events of the Southern Song Dynasty. In the late 1970s, he was invited to assist Mr. Deng Guangming in compiling The Annotated Chronology of Xin Qiji's Lyrics. He alternated between history and literature, extensively studying the collected works of Southern Song literati, with particular focus on Zhang Xiaoxiang and Xin Qiji, achieving remarkable original insights. Therefore, this book is not only a popular introduction to Xin Qiji's lyrics but also offers enlightenment for those researching them.
Xin Qiji (1140–1207), styled You'an, styled Jiaxuan Jushi, was from Licheng (now Licheng County, Shandong Province). He grew up in areas occupied by the Jin forces. His grandfather, Xin Zan, often educated him in the ideals of resisting the invaders and avenging national humiliation. At the age of 20, he led over 2,000 people in an uprising against the Jin forces and joined the peasant army led by Geng Jing, serving as his secretary. Later, he returned to the Southern Song Dynasty and held positions such as Assistant Magistrate of Jiankang Fu (now Nanjing, Jiangsu Province), Governor of Chuzhou (now Chuzhou, Anhui Province), Inspector of Jiangxi Circuit, Vice Transport Commissioner of Hubei, and Governor of Hunan and Jiangxi. During his tenure as local officials, he emphasized the development of production, military training, and preparation for northern campaigns, demonstrating extraordinary military and political talents. As a result, he incurred the resentment of the ruling authorities and was dismissed. He lived in seclusion in Shangrao, Xinzhou (now Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province) for nearly 20 years, though he held brief posts such as Governor of Fujian Circuit but was quickly dismissed. In his later years, as the court's situation grew dire, he was recalled but remained distrusted, and ultimately died in sorrow.
Xin Qiji was a great patriotic lyric poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. His works deeply reflected the acute national and class contradictions of the time, expressing his patriotic fervor for resisting the Jin forces and achieving national unification. His works cover a wide range of themes and styles, primarily heroic and grand, with skillful use of allusions and vivid descriptions. He expanded the boundaries of lyric poetry and enhanced its expressive power, becoming one of the most outstanding representatives of the Southern Song lyric poetry scene. He compiled the collection Jiaxuan Changduanju.