Wandering in Song Dynasty Cities -- A Chronicle of Song Dynasty Urban Life (A Chronicle of Song Dynasty Urban Life)

Author: Yi Yongwen
Publisher:
Publish 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 the fruit of such reflections. The author adheres to the principle of "speaking according to the evidence at hand," placing the lives of Song Dynasty urbanites on a solid foundation of material evidence and elaborating upon it, but not merely listing facts. Instead, the approach involves specific analysis of particular issues, conducting micro-studies—following the of "from the particular to the general," 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, images, text, and history, supplemented by narrative prose. In this book, historical events and anecdotes are presented through poetry to interpret history; illustrations and tomb artifacts from the Song Dynasty are used to identify and explain urban social life during that era. The author strives for a unique research method and writing style, avoiding lengthy citations of historical documents or detailed bibliographical references. Instead, various historical records, including unofficial histories, local chronicles, and fictional tales, are blended 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, and achieving such results requires long-term dedication, 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 remarks from an expert clearly reflect the depth and representativeness of the book's features. The illustrations used in the book are adapted from reproductions of Song Dynasty images found in others' works, as well as clear line drawings based on archaeological reports and unearthed artifacts. The primary sources for these images include works such as 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 Tomb, Ordinary Elegance, Comprehensive History of Chinese Customs, History of Chinese Clothing, History of Ancient Chinese Clothing, Research on Ancient Chinese Clothing, The Great Masters of Chinese Art Series, Illustrated History of Ancient Chinese Sports, History of Ancient Chinese Architecture, History of Chinese Urban Planning, Brilliant Ancient China, Fuhixian's Paintings and Calligraphy Appraisal Collection, and Wang Shiyang's Collected Works of Cicada.