Three Hundred Songs of Song Dynasty (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Wang Taige
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-02-01
Features: Ci, as a lyrical poetry set to music, its origins can be traced back to the Xin Sheng (Yanyue) of the Sui and Tang dynasties or even earlier to the Yuefu of the Han and Wei periods. It gradually broke free from the constraints of composing lyrics according to musical beats in the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, evolving into an independent new poetic form. It achieved certain development during the Tang Dynasty and reached great prosperity in the Song Dynasty. It rose from lyrics dependent on music to a vivid and expressive independent literary form, from mere entertainment and pastime to important works that expressed the fate of the times, and from simple short pieces to over 800 tunes and more than 2,300 forms, thus presenting a vibrant scene of diverse styles, shining in contrast to Tang poetry. Due to its significant position in ancient Chinese literature, many anthologies of Ci have been passed down to this day. Among them, Three Hundred Poems of Song Ci is currently the most popular anthology of Song Ci, meticulously compiled by Zhu Xiaozang (1857–1931) in his later years. Its selection criteria prioritize the concept of "harmonious unity" (huncheng) while also seeking in terms of style and spirit.