Three Hundred Yuan Qu Poems

Author: Ren Zhongmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Wang Guowei said in the Preface to Studies on Song and Yuan Drama that, "Every era has its own literature: Chu's Ci poetry, Han's fu, the parallel prose of the Six Dynasties, Tang's poetry, Song's Ci, Yuan's qu, all of which are called the literature of their respective eras, and none can be succeeded by later generations." Tang poetry, Song Ci, and Yuan qu have become three towering peaks in the history of Chinese literature. Yuan qu consists of two parts: zaju (a form of drama) and sanqu (a poetic form). Here, "Yuan qu" refers to sanqu, which includes xiaoling (short qu) and taoshu (qu sets). Xiaoling, also known as "ye'er," is the basic unit of sanqu; taoshu, also known as sanshao or qu sets. Sanqu originated from folk songs and popular folk tunes during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. In terms of artistic form, it is more free and flexible than poetry and prose. The rhyme scheme allows for the use of both level and oblique tones, avoids repeating rhymes, allows for the addition of supplementary words, and even adjusts the number of characters. Its characteristics can be summarized in one word: mixed, scattered, folk, and spicy. It extensively uses colloquial language, making it lively and fresh, vivid and distinctive. It also frequently employs reduplicated words to mimic sounds and describe scenes, making the sounds and appearances lifelike and the emotions vivid. Three Hundred Yuan Qu Selections was compiled and selected by Mr. Ren Zhongmin and later revised by Mr. Lu Qian. It includes many high-quality qu works, featuring famous qu writers such as Guan Hanqing, Bai Pu, Wang Shifu, Ma Zhiyuan, Qiao Ji, and Zhang Keliu. The line "Withered vines, old trees, and roosting crows at dusk; small bridges, flowing water, and households. Ancient roads, west winds, and lean horses. The setting sun descends, and the heartbroken wanderer is at the end of the earth." from Ma Zhiyuan's Autumn Thoughts in Tianjing Sha perfectly embodies the charm of Yuan qu.