National School of Classics - Three Hundred Songs of Song Dynasty

Author: Han Li
Translation Note:
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Tang poetry and Song lyrics are a magnificent sight in the long river of Chinese cultural development. Since their inception, they have not only refined people's sentiments with their exceptional artistic quality but also nurtured generations of Chinese people through their profound thoughts. To allow modern children to appreciate these two shining gems of Chinese culture, Tang poetry and Song lyrics, we have carefully selected three hundred pieces from the numerous existing works of both genres and compiled them into this book. The selected poems cover a wide range of themes and styles, all with healthy and uplifting tones, making them suitable for children to memorize. Three Hundred Tang Poems includes well-known works like Ode to the Goose, which is familiar to all, as well as Spring River Flower Moon Night, praised by the modern scholar Wen Yiduo as "the poem of poems, the peak of peaks." Every piece is a masterpiece, and every line is widely beloved. Three Hundred Song Lyrics features vivid descriptions like "ducks pair on the sand, the pool is dim under the moon; clouds break, the moon rises, flowers play with shadows," grand statements such as "chaotic rocks collapse into clouds, thundering waves shatter the shore, rolling up a thousand piles of snow," and earnest advice like "do not waste time, let youth turn white in vain, only to grieve in vain"—each deeply moving and every verse leaving a lasting impression. To help children better understand the meaning behind the poems, we have provided annotations, translations, and supplementary notes after each piece. The annotations aim for comprehensiveness and accuracy; the translations strive for simplicity and clarity, with elegant and well-structured language; and the supplementary notes emphasize the role of guiding readers. To enhance children's interest in reading and make it easier for them to grasp the meaning of the poems, we have paired each piece with exquisite illustrations, making the entire book rich in visuals and deeply immersive in its scenes.