Tang and Song Ci Practical Classification Illustrated Dictionary

Author: Shang Tao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-05-01
Features: The selected works in this book focus more on depicting real life rather than love. We emphasize sincerity in emotions, originality in language, vivid imagery, and artistic expressiveness. To facilitate readers' comprehension without restricting their understanding or imagination, we adopted two methods: categorization and annotation. The categorization is based on the primary tendencies of the works' content. While it provides a general guideline, it is not entirely precise, leaving ample room for readers' exploration. The annotation explains the essence of the works. In practice, we strive to translate the works as closely as possible. We avoid using terms like "translation" or "modern translation" to prevent inaccuracies, lack of elegance, or loss of poetic quality.
Regarding previous annotations, some difficult passages are either left unexplained or explained vaguely, making it hard for readers to follow. Moreover, even when annotations are provided, they often fail to create a coherent narrative. Therefore, bridging the gaps in poetic expression or clarifying profound emotions through translation remains necessary. This is why many classical and literary works have been modernized in recent years.