Selection of Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty Ci Poems

Author: Xia Chengtao / Zhang Zhang (editors)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-08-01
Features: As a cultural heritage, the term (ci poetry) naturally has its historical limitations. Originating from the folk, it initially reflected a relatively broad range of life. However, after being taken up by literati, it gradually bore the mark of the leisure class, becoming a conventional artistic form used to craft elegant verses and express the hedonistic life of the elite. It gradually distanced itself from real life, even incorporating lowbrow elements. Many outstanding figures upheld the realist tradition in classical literature, making positive contributions to the healthy development of ci poetry. However, it cannot be denied that works focused on romance, beauty, and artifice, as well as formalist tendencies, were quite widespread. This requires an analysis from a historical materialist perspective, extracting the essence while discarding the dross. This collection includes fifty ci poems from the Jin Dynasty, eighty-one from the Yuan Dynasty, one hundred and twenty from the Ming Dynasty, and two hundred and fourteen from the Qing Dynasty. By examining these texts, we can observe the rise and fall of ci poetry and, in the process, gain insight into one aspect of social life at the time, providing a reference for enthusiasts of ci poetry. The selection prioritizes works with healthy themes and strong artistic merit. Those that are harmless yet artistically high and influential are also included in moderation to preserve the characteristics of different schools.