Chu Chinese Grammar Research

Author: Liao Xudong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1995-02-01
Features: Qu Yuan was one of the greatest poets in ancient China who loved his country and people. His works had a wide and profound influence on later generations. This book is a collection of papers on the grammar of Qu Yuan's works. Qu Yuan's works were referred to as "Chuci" as early as the early Han Dynasty (see Records of the Grand Historian - Biography of the Severe Officials); Ban Gu's Book of Han - Treatise on Arts and Literature called them "Qu Yuan's Odes," and later they were also known as "Qu's Odes." This book is titled "Chuci," and sometimes referred to as "Qu's Odes" in the text. The Book of Han records "" (25 pieces) of Qu Yuan's odes. Shen Qinhai's Annotations on the Book of Han states that from Li Sao to Da Zhuang, there are exactly 25 pieces. Gu Shi's Annotations on the Treatise on Arts and Literature of the Book of Han states that the modern Chuci includes one Li Sao, eleven Jiu Ge, one Tian Wen, nine Jiu Zhang, three Yan You, Bu Ju, and Yu Fu, totaling 25 pieces. Shen includes Jiu Ben, Zhao Hun, and Da Zhuang, while Gu does not. Modern scholars of Chuci also have differing opinions. Lu Kanru's Qu Yuan (Yadong Library, 1923) argues that only Li Sao, the Jiu Zhang, and Tian Wen (11 pieces) are truly Qu Yuan's works. Guo Moruo's Studies on Qu Yuan (Qunyi Publishing House, 1943) believes there are 12 pieces, including Zhao Hun. You Guo'en's Qu Yuan (Shenghuo, Dushu, Sanlian Bookstore, 1953; also Zhonghua Book Company, 1980) considers 13 pieces as reliable, adding Yan You to Guo's list. Jiang Liangfu's Annotations on Qu Yuan's Odes (People's Literature Publishing House, 1957) differs from You's, excluding Zhao Hun but including Bu Ju and Yu Fu. Liu Yongji's Comprehensive Annotations on Qu Yuan's Odes (People's Literature Publishing House, 1961) determines 10 pieces as true works of Qu Yuan: Li Sao, Jiu Ben, Jiu Ge, Guo Shang (extracted from Jiu Ge), Tian Wen, Xi Song, She Jiang, Ai Ying, Chou Si, and Hu Sha, which greatly differs from the earlier views. Which view is closer to the truth is difficult to determine at this time. This book takes the uncontroversial or less controversial works such as Li Sao, Jiu Zhang, Jiu Ge, and Tian Wen as the objects of grammatical study. The original texts are based on the Supplementary Annotations on Chuci by Hong Xingzu of the Song Dynasty, as published in the Four Treasuries Collation (i.e., the Ming-era copy preserved in Jiangnan Library).