Word Forest, Ten Thousand Choices

Author: Yang Shen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-02-07
Features: For friends who enjoy reading ci poetry, we have selected several ci poetry anthologies that were influential in ancient times but relatively rare today. Among them are the Wanli-era edition of the Huajianji annotated by Tang Xianzu, the Hongwu-era Cotaixu, and the Jiajing-era Selected Famous Scholars' Ci from Cotaixu. Although both the Cotaixu editions are based on He Shixin's original work from the Song Dynasty, one is a re-engraving of the original, while the other is an adaptation based on it. Another is Yang Shen's Ci Lin Wanxuan, Qianlong-era Qia Shi's Juemei Hao Ci Jian based on Zhou Mi's Juemei Hao Ci, Zhang Huizhen's Ci Xuan (with Continued Ci Xuan), and Xian Zhuo's Ci Jie. Additionally, we have included Chen Yaowen's Hua Cao Chubian from the Ming Dynasty. These ci poetry anthologies not only largely reflect the transmission of ci poetry since the Tang and Song dynasties but also largely represent the value perceptions of the Ming and Qing dynasties toward ci poetry. For example, in the preface to Tang Xianzu's annotated Huajianji, the Ming Wanli-era scholar Wu Jiaxian writes: "Since childhood, I have studied the classics and history. Whenever I read about benevolent and filial men who were slandered and maligned, I would clench my fists in anger, wishing to take their lives to satisfy my indignation. In the year Wuxin, the (Liang River's rampant cruelty) affected me as well. I then abandoned my imperial examinations, forgot sleep and food, and no longer wished to live in this world. My fellow scholars and companions tried to console me but failed. Suddenly, a friend took out two small books from his sleeve and gave them to me, saying, 'Read and recite them day and night, and your grievances may be somewhat alleviated.' I looked and found them to be the Cotaixu and Huajianji annotated by Yang Sheng'an and Tang Hailuo. Thus, I let my hair down, threw off my robe, and traveled through Wu, Chu, Min, and Yue, climbing mountains and crossing rivers, facing the wind and the moon—comparing these two books with everything I did."