Historical and Contemporary Selections of Proverbs from Five Hundred Families

Author: Yang Zicai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Words are the development of poetry. They convey meaning beyond words, with truth as their core, emotion as the seed, and a focus on artistic realm. They arise from responding to things, being subtle and lingering, filling them into melodies, and thus present greater creative difficulty, striving for truth, goodness, and beauty. In the Qing Dynasty, Shen Xianglong said in Random Notes on the Art of Ci: "Ci differs in form from classical prose, poetry, and fu; yet it lacks understanding of the rules of classical prose." I believe that among all literary genres, Ci holds the highest literary value and is the most enduring in appreciation. I have selected Ci from ancient times to the present, even though it was a time-consuming and laborious effort, as if seeking hardship for no reward—yet it is worth it. This is because it contributes to promoting the excellent cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, which is unparalleled and difficult for other countries to match.
Sorrowful. Awaken Yu Ji, bid farewell for her sake, blood-stained flowers scattered. The great enterprise has faded, the white horse does not return; breath exhausted, the waters of Wujiang. Ruined temples, leaning walls, the setting sun paints red trees, regrets in the cries of crows. Forget rise and fall, the autumn grass on high tombs is empty green.
In the Qing Dynasty, Chen Tingzhuo remarked in Baiyu Zhai Ci Hua: "The writing possesses the momentum of driving tigers and dragons, it should be a Ci praising Xiang Yu." This situation shows that as a Ci anthology, including both renowned and lesser-known authors prevents the hidden gems from being overlooked. Based on this principle, this book collects over a thousand Ci poems from more than five hundred authors from the Tang Dynasty to the contemporary era. While appropriately including works by famous authors, it also carefully selects outstanding pieces by lesser-known masters from all dynasties, allowing readers to compare freely and glimpse the overall landscape.