Student Yuanqu 300 Poems

Author: Yang Chun'e
Compiler:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: Yuanqu is not just Yuan zaju (operas), but also includes Yuan sanqu (lyric songs). The lyrics in each act of zaju are composed according to a fixed mode (gongdiao), with set tunes, such as the Zhenggong mode used in the third act of The Injustice to Dou E, with sub-modes like "Duanzhengao," "Gunxiuqiu," "Tangxiuzai," "Taotao ling," "Kuaihuosan," and "Shuaohair" etc. Scholars would use one of these modes to compose a short song, called xiaoling; while a set of modes combined into a group of songs is called quanshu. The formation of Yuan sanqu is also somewhat related to Song Ci (poetry). For instance, the mode "Mantingfang" in Yuanqu is also a mode in Song Ci. Since Song Ci was often used by scholars to express emotions, when Yuan scholars composed xiaolings and quanshus individually, they inevitably carried the refined literary charm of Song Ci. Therefore, Yuan sanqu is divided into two schools: the "" (authentic school) and the "" (literary school). For example, Ma Zhiyuan and Bai Pu belong to the literary school, while Guan Hanqing belongs to the authentic school. This distinction extends to zaju as well, though it is not an absolute boundary. The appearance of Yuanqu is so rich and magnificent, and its essence so profound and extraordinary, that it is not the compiler's intention to enable ordinary students to truly understand Yuan classics within a small anthology. The purpose of this book is simply to select famous works that are healthy, accessible, and humorous, so that students can gain a preliminary and comprehensive sensory understanding of Yuanqu. To aid in reading, each annotation after the song includes a brief explanation of its meaning, which should not be treated as poetry.