Flowers Between the Words (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Li Miao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Exquisite illustrations and rhyming verses. Yuanqu is not a single genre; it includes Zaju (drama) and Sanqu (lyric poetry). Zaju is a form of drama, while Sanqu is a poetic form. As a poetic genre alongside Tang poetry and Song ci, Yuanqu primarily refers to Sanqu. In terms of content, most Yuan Sanqu authors were Han intellectuals. Under the dark political climate and perilous official career paths, their verses often expressed themes of "lamenting the world" and "retiring to the countryside." In artistic expression, Sanqu allows for the use of both level and oblique tones in rhymes, avoids repeating rhymes, permits the addition of supplementary characters, and even adjusts the number of characters. This further breaks free from the constraints of fixed forms, enabling greater freedom in expressing emotions. Another important artistic feature of Yuanqu is the extensive use of colloquial language, which gives the works a regional flavor and rustic charm, making them lively, fresh, and distinctive.