"300 Yuan Qu Poems -- Standard Edition of Classical Masterpieces

Author: Ren Zhongmin (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: One of the "Standard Readings of Classical Masterpieces." It takes the original text of Ren Zhongmin's widely circulated Three Hundred Yuan Qu and adds concise annotations. The layout is spacious, the binding is simple, making it easy to read and appreciate. Three Hundred Yuan Qu, selected and edited by the master of Yuan Qu studies Ren Zhongmin and revised by Lu Qian, is another popular popular reading of ancient Chinese poetry after Retired Scholar Han's Three Hundred Tang Poems and Zhu Qiangcun's Three Hundred Song Lyrics. This Three Hundred Yuan Qu only includes sanliang (short pieces) of sanqu (Yuan Qu). Sanliang refers to folk tunes, usually written in a single qu (a form of Chinese poetry). They are the basic form of sanqu. Three Hundred Yuan Qu features 68 authors, with an additional 36 anonymous works. Yuan Dynasty sanqu creation can be divided into two periods: early and late. The early period's creative center was Dadu (modern-day Beijing). The late period saw the creative center gradually shift to Jiangnan, giving rise to a group of authors who dedicated themselves primarily to sanqu creation, such as Zhang Keliu, Qiao Ji, Guan Yunshi, and Xu Zaishi. While the late period produced more works in quantity and retained the popular, straightforward, and lively characteristics of early sanqu, the overall trend leaned toward elegance and refinement, approaching the style of ci poetry and moving away from the source of urban popular arts. Yuan Dynasty sanqu styles were diverse, primarily divided into two schools: bold and clear. The bold school is represented by Ma Zhiyuan, while the clear school is best exemplified by Zhang Keliu. The early period was dominated by the bold style, with clear works also holding significant importance. The late period, however, favored the clear style, with bold works playing a secondary role. Even within the bold school of the late period, it carried the charming color of Jiangnan literary traditions.