Song Lyrics Three Hundred Translated and Annotated (2 volumes)

Author: Bi Baoquan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: This book is a companion to Three Hundred Poems of the Tang Dynasty: Translation, Annotation, and Critique. The Ci (a type of Chinese lyric poetry) is a unique product of the development of classical Chinese poetry, evolving from the Book of Songs and Han-Vei Yuefu and the continuous advancement of regulated verse in the Tang Dynasty. It is a new form of poetry that can be sung to music while also adhering to strict rules of meter and rhyme. The Song Dynasty was the period of maturity and prosperity for the Ci, marking its peak in creation. Three Hundred Poems of the Song Dynasty includes works by 85 Ci poets from the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties. Among them, Liu Yong contributes 13 poems, Yan Jidao 15, Su Shi 10, Zhou Bangyan 22, He Zhu 11, Xin Qiji 12, Jiang Kui 17, and Wu Wenying 25. The works of these eight poets account for nearly half of the entire collection, making them the undisputed masters. With the aim of promoting national culture and catering to readers with a moderate level of education, this book seeks to enhance people's quality of life and cultural taste, as well as refine their character. It strives to translate and critique the elegant, subtle, and sometimes obscure Ci into simple, clear, and flowing language, bridging the gap between the original works and the readers' understanding of their ideological essence and artistic features. Although this is an extremely challenging task and the results may not fully meet expectations, the author has still devoted their utmost effort to it.