Complete Works of Li Kaixian: Upper, Middle, and Lower

Author: Li Kaixian of the Ming Dynasty
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: The Complete Works of Li Kaixian are divided into three volumes, collecting his poems, plays, qu (a form of Chinese poetry), qu theory, and miscellaneous writings. Except for two qu pieces (A Gift to Kang Duishan and Ill in Jiangao), all are composed after he left his hometown. Li Kaixian's works can be seen as a microcosm of his era. He writes about the nation, the government, and also about himself. His depictions of the government are often infused with his personal likes and dislikes, while his expressions of personal joy are never unrelated to the nation and state. Sometimes driven by vanity, he might say some grand or empty words, or even lies, but most of his words come from the bottom of his heart, unadorned and sincere. In almost all his works, he is earnestly nostalgic for the past or expresses his innermost feelings.