Selected Poems of Li Qingzhao -- Classical Poetry Master

Author: Zhuge Yibing, Editor
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Li Qingzhao is a rare genius among female writers in the history of Chinese literature. Her ci poems are cleverly crafted and refreshingly lyrical, widely recognized as masterpieces. Although her poetry is scarce, its heroic spirit and boldness rival those of men, equally admirable. This book selects 45 of her ci poems and 10 of her poems, encompassing nearly all her important works. They are meticulously arranged in chronological order of creation, accompanied by detailed introductions and annotations, making it an excellent classical poetry reader.
This series of "Classical Poetry Masters" is a collection of renowned works by famous poets from Chinese history, curated by Zhonghua Book Company. It gathers the latest research findings to provide a systematic and accessible poetry anthology that balances academic rigor and readability, appealing to both scholars and general readers. The compilation was jointly undertaken by over 30 experts and scholars from more than 20 institutions nationwide.
1. The primary criterion for selecting works is their popularity, while also considering their ideological depth and artistic merit.
2. The texts are primarily based on authoritative versions, especially those of authoritative collations, without textual annotations. Minor variations are generally not noted, while significant ones are explained in the annotations.
3. Each book features an introduction before the main text, offering a comprehensive and insightful critique of the selected author, works, and related content.
4. Works are arranged chronologically, with those not dated placed after the dated ones.
5. Below each poem or prose is a "Brief Introduction" and "Annotations." The brief introduction provides context on the background, themes, techniques, artistic features, and relevant names, places, or reigns. The annotations address the needs of general readers, with particular attention to explaining allusions, specialized terms, and difficult phrases. Obscure characters are annotated with Pinyin, and confusing sentences are paraphrased.
Through this series, readers can gain a thorough and systematic understanding of outstanding poets and works in the history of Chinese literature, fostering spiritual resonance, enriching life experiences, and serving as a model for learning and imitation in poetry creation.
Li Qingzhao was a rare genius among female writers in the history of Chinese literature. Her ci poems are cleverly crafted and refreshingly lyrical, widely recognized as masterpieces. Although her poetry is scarce, its heroic spirit and boldness rival those of men, equally admirable. This book selects 45 of her ci poems and 10 of her poems, encompassing nearly all her important works. They are meticulously arranged in chronological order of creation, accompanied by detailed introductions and annotations, making it an excellent classical poetry reader.
Li Qingzhao (1084–c. 1151): A female poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. Known as the "Noble Lady of Yi An," she was from Zhangqiu, Qizhou (now part of Shandong). Her father, Li Gefei, was a renowned scholar of the time, and her husband, Zhao Mingcheng, was an expert in epigraphy and paleography. In her early life, she lived comfortably with Zhao Mingcheng, collecting and organizing calligraphy, paintings, and artifacts. When the Jin army occupied the Central Plains, she fled south and was widowed at an early age, enduring hardship. Her early poems depict leisurely life, while her later works lament her fate, tinged with melancholy, though some also reflect her longing for the Central Plains. Stylistically, she excelled at using plain language and pioneered new techniques, with elegant and refined expressions. She emphasized musicality in poetry, advocated for classical elegance and refinement, and proposed the theory that "ci poetry is a distinct genre," opposing the practice of writing poems in the style of prose. She was also skilled in poetry, though few of her works survive. Some of her poems express patriotic sentiments and historical reflections with passionate words, differing from her ci style. She left behind the "Collected Works of the Noble Lady of Yi An" and "Poems of the Noble Lady of Yi An," which are now lost. Later compilers created the "Collected Poems of Shuyu," while modern scholars have produced the "Collected Works of Li Qingzhao with Annotations."