Eternal Masterpiece (5 Volumes)

Author: Luo Shouzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The ancient concept of reciting poetry was closely linked to singing. The Rites of Zhou·Spring·Grand Music Officer states: [Teach the state students with musical language: rising, guiding, reciting, chanting, speaking, and uttering.] Zheng Xuan explained the character [recite] as: [To recite with rhythmic intonation.] The Book of Documents·Yao's Canon says: [Poetry expresses the mind, singing prolongs the words.] Kong An's commentary states: [Poetry expresses the mind to guide, singing praises its meaning to prolong the words.] In summary, the ancients believed that both reciting and chanting were necessary to savor the essence and taste the flavors of poetry and prose. Today's concept of recitation differs greatly from the ancient concept of reciting in terms of pitch and method, but its essence remains the same—to [prolong the words]. In recitation, one cultivates emotional refinement and also moves the listeners. The Jin dynasty scholar Shu Xi said in his Ode to Reading: [Rising and falling, loud and soft, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, leisurely and reserved, expanding and contracting. Reciting Volunteers makes loyal ministers happy, chanting Leaves makes filial sons sad, mentioning The Great Rat makes greedy people leave, singing White Horses makes wise men return. Therefore, Zhonghua recited poetry to fulfill himself, Zhongni read the Book of Changes throughout his life, Yuan Xian recited silently and forgot his humble status, Yan Hui studied diligently and took poverty lightly, Ni Kuan recited aloud while farming, and Ma Jin recited while carrying firewood. This describes the subtle and gradual influence of reciting classical poetry and prose on both oneself and others. From the vast treasures of Chinese classical literature, a selection of excellent poems, ci, qu, fu, and prose that are both appreciable and easy to recite have been carefully chosen and compiled into collections, providing readers with the opportunity to recite and immerse themselves, gradually cultivating their character.]