Wandering in Song Dynasty Cities (Illustrations of the Atmosphere of Song Dynasty Cities)

Author: Yiyongwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Narrating the lingering tales from imperial palaces to bustling streets, vividly recreating the diverse aspects of traditional Chinese life. How to equip students with knowledge conducive to a deeper understanding of classical literature, thereby advancing research in classical literature, is a challenge faced by educators in this field. Inspired by this, the author has chosen the relationship between Song, Yuan, and Ming literature and urban social life as the research area, frequently exploring both within and beyond this field through interdisciplinary studies. This book is the fruit of such reflections. The author adheres to the principle of "speaking only what is supported by evidence," placing the lives of Song Dynasty urbanites on a solid foundation of material, elaborating on it, but not merely listing facts. Instead, the approach involves specific analysis of particular issues, conducting micro-studies—following the scientific principle of "from the particular to the general," gradually gaining insights into the subject, and forming one's own perspectives. The expression of these insights can take various forms, with the choice depending on the researcher's academic background. To make the research accessible, the author has adopted a style that combines poetry, illustrations, text, and historical accounts, supplemented by narrative prose. In this book, historical events and proofs are presented through poetry, while Song Dynasty illustrations and tomb artifacts are used to identify and interpret urban social life during that era. The author strives for a unique research method and writing style, avoiding lengthy citations of historical documents or detailed bibliographies, instead blending historical anecdotes, local records, and fictional tales into a cohesive whole. The aim is to convey the hardships in simple terms, transforming the profound into the ordinary, catering to the reading preferences of students and the general public. From a professional standpoint, the events and allusions described in the book are well-documented, with every word grounded in historical sources. The content has been meticulously reviewed, making the book valuable for experts seeking useful materials and for general readers seeking broader cultural knowledge. As Professor Liang Gengyao, a renowned expert in Song Dynasty history from National Taiwan University, remarked upon the book's initial publication: "Such works can both popularize historical knowledge and maintain academic rigor, requiring long-term effort to achieve meaningful results, which is no easy task." The section titled 'Fire Disaster' can be considered a short academic paper, analyzing the causes of urban fires and offering valuable insights. When read in conjunction with the following section 'Firefighting System,' it becomes even more meaningful. These expert opinions clearly reflect the book's distinctive features. The illustrations used in the book are derived from reproductions of Song Dynasty images found in others' works, as well as clear line drawings based on archaeological reports and unearthed artifacts. The primary sources include the following books: Shilin Guangji and selected Song Dynasty local gazettes, Zhenghe Bencao Tujing, Santai Tuhui, Wenwu, Song and Yuan Drama Artifacts and Folk Customs, The Homeland of the Dragon, Song Dynasty Court Painting Style, Baisha Song Tomb, Everyday Elegance, Comprehensive History of Chinese Customs, History of Chinese Clothing, Ancient Chinese Clothing History, Research on Ancient Chinese Clothing, Masterpieces of Chinese Art, Illustrated History of Ancient Chinese Sports, History of Ancient Chinese Architecture, History of Chinese City Planning, Glory of Ancient China, Fuhixian's Paintings and Calligraphy Identification Collection, and Wang Shixiang's The Crickets' Manual and other works.