Appreciation of Chinese Classical Masterpieces - Tang Poetry, Song Ci, Yuan Qu and Classical Chinese (Full Four Volumes with Color Illustrations): Tang Poetry, Song Ci, Yuan Qu and Classical Chinese (Color Illustrated Version)

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1. Poetry, lyrics, quatrains, and prose paired with illustrations, creating breathtaking beauty. The highest realm of poetry, lyrics, quatrains, and prose is "poetry with painting, lyrics with painting, quatrains with painting, and prose with painting"; the highest realm of painting is "painting with poetry, painting with lyrics, painting with quatrains, and painting with prose." The highest realm of the book is "poetic sentiment in painting, lyrical charm in ink fragrance, rhythmic essence in quatrains, and literary splendor in writing." The illustrated editions of Tang Poetry, Song Lyrics, Yuan Quatrains, and Classical Prose select the finest works of each genre, accompanied by paintings drawn by renowned artists throughout history for these specific works. The combination of paintings and text is a match made in heaven, with beauty that is endless to behold.
2. Detailed annotations and analyses, adding brilliance to the masterpiece. Each work is annotated and accompanied by insightful commentary by experts, helping readers appreciate the subtleties of the pieces. The annotations throughout the book are accurate and appropriate, while the commentary is concise and elegant, complementing the original works.
3. Full-color printing, exquisite binding. The book features designs and bindings crafted by top experts, with a grand and exquisite layout. The interior text is printed on 157g copperplate paper in full color, and the cover showcases traditional Chinese cultural heritage with UV technology. The book beautifully interprets the essence of Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuan quatrains, and classical prose, inheriting the essence of Chinese civilization. The content of the book is a compilation of classics, invaluable in both its worth and its illumination of the past and present. The presentation of the book is equally impressive, offering both benefit and delight with every turn of the page, making it a rare gem among books.
Tang poetry, building upon the foundations of previous generations, propelled China's poetic achievements to the pinnacle of history. During the flourishing Kaiyuan and Tianbao periods of the Tang Dynasty, Tang poetry reached an unprecedented level of brilliance. The achievements of Li Bai and Du Fu marked the zenith of Tang poetry, followed by a new surge in its popularity. As a treasure of Chinese civilization, Tang poetry has had a profound impact on later generations, and even today, it still shines with an undiminished brilliance, becoming more captivating with time.
Lyrics were the soul of Song Dynasty literature, inheriting the momentum of the early Song and Five Dynasties period when the form first flourished. Through the efforts of numerous talented writers, they achieved a radiant and glorious success. The short songs of and represented the early blossoming of Song lyrics, while the masterful slow songs of the great litterateur Liu Yong brought fundamental changes to the genre. The Southern Song lyrics, shaped by the fall of the northern territories and the transformation of the nation's destiny, presented a different landscape. As a vast literary and artistic hall of the Chinese nation, Song lyrics left an endless treasure for later generations, becoming the spiritual nourishment for generations of Chinese people.
Yuan quatrains include both sanqu and zaju, though neither form appeared exclusively in the Yuan Dynasty—they existed before it. However, the term "Yuan quatrains" arose because the genre flourished most notably during the Yuan period, representing the highest level of literary creation at the time. Our traditional opera truly rose during the transition between the Song and Yuan dynasties, a comprehensive composition of singing, dancing, and music. Among the notable Yuan quatrains writers were Zhang Kejiu and Guan Yunshi, who focused on real-life themes, making their works widely beloved.
Classical prose, to distinguish it from modern literary styles, is the term used for ancient Chinese articles. However, the "ancient" in "classical" is not derogatory but holds deeper significance. Moreover, we often say "learn the old to understand the new"—if one were to use classical prose to explore modern science and technology, it would indeed be a stretch of imagination. Yet, in terms of content, classical prose may still serve to develop wisdom and innovate thinking. In other words, it is a way of thinking differently. Additionally, we not only strive to do things well but also to be good people—whether in self-cultivation, interpersonal relationships, or broadening life's horizons, the treasures of classical prose are invaluable. Based on such practical significance, the selection of classical prose should have clear goals: to both broaden knowledge and cultivate the spirit.