Chu Ci Notes

Author: Zhang Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: A psychological journey that reflects the past and present, an encounter between literature and history in its simplest form. Zhang Wei, with a tranquil and pastoral writing style, embarks on a solitary journey through the mountains and forests, tracing Qu Yuan, the sorrowful and vast-hearted poet from over 2,300 years ago. He transforms the fragmented impressions of the Chu Ci into a unified understanding of life. The book is divided into two parts: annotations and connected explanations. The annotations are extremely concise, avoiding textual criticism, making it easy to understand the original meaning at a glance. The connected explanations, on the other hand, fall between translation, interpretation, extension, and explanation, often incorporating Zhang Wei's personal insights. In this book, Zhang Wei no longer introduces Qu Yuan's family background, life, or political activities, nor does he explain the Chu Ci from those perspectives. He approaches it aesthetically, delving directly into the text to experience its beauty, allure, and the lingering charm of its aesthetics, as well as the elegance of its language and the purity of Qu Yuan's character. The notes are divided into two parts: annotations and connected explanations. The annotations are extremely concise, avoiding textual criticism, making it easy to understand the original meaning at a glance. The connected explanations, on the other hand, fall between translation, interpretation, extension, and explanation, often incorporating Zhang Wei's personal insights.