Underwater Journey

Author: Liu Qi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-12-01
Features: Guian Zhi (14 volumes). It was titled Guian (Retreating into Seclusion) by Liu Qi, who named his study as such after his return to the north in the year Renchen (1232). The first six volumes are biographies of figures from the Jin Dynasty, most of whom were poets and writers, such as Zhao Bingwen, Li Chunfu, Lei Yuan, Ma Zhiji, Xin Yuan, Li Fen, Yang Yunyi, and Feng Bi, who were all renowned literary figures of the Jin Dynasty. Volumes seven to ten contain miscellaneous records and anecdotes. These include critiques of poetry and literature by Jin Dynasty authors, covering works by Su Shi of the Northern Song, Huang Tingjian of the Northern Song, and Yang Wanli of the Southern Song, reflecting the northern perspective on the literary styles of the south. Additionally, there are discussions by the author on the evolution of literary trends in the Jin Dynasty from the Mingchang and Cheng'an periods to the end of the dynasty, as well as anecdotes about figures like Tang Huaiying and Xin Qiji. Volume thirteen is a collection of miscellaneous essays. The author states: "Before the Tang Dynasty, poetry was poetry; in the Song Dynasty, it was more often in the form of regulated verse; and today, poetry is found in folk songs and ditties." This summarizes the characteristics of Tang and Song literature and the developmental trends of Jin and Yuan literature, offering insightful observations. The records in the book are mostly based on the author's familiarity and personal experiences, making them relatively credible. Given the extensive loss of Jin Dynasty texts, this book serves as an important reference for studying Jin Dynasty literature.