Heavy ridges have already separated from the mortal world: A Collection of Yuan Qu and Sanqu

Author: He Meilong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Yuanqu evolved from ci poetry. Like other artistic flowers, once it emerged, it demonstrated a vibrant vitality. Its works, with their broad themes, colloquial language, lively forms, fresh styles, vivid depictions, diverse techniques, and profound revelations of social reality, were deeply loved by the general public, leading to their flourishing and eventually replacing ci poetry, forming the artistic peak of the Yuan Dynasty. According to Complete Yuan Qu, it compiled over 200 Yuanqu writers, more than 4,310 works (sets), and over 160 complete zaju plays that have been passed down to this day. Many famous lines and passages from these works remain widely quoted, and numerous plays are still frequently performed, enduring through the ages. This volume includes over 400 qu works by 110 representative writers and anonymous authors from various periods. Most of the selected works are from Complete Yuan Qu, while some are from works outside Golden and Yuan Qu or collected from other ancient texts and local documents. A few pieces are transcribed from ancient artifacts preserved in local museums. The compilers have provided brief annotations on the words and allusions in each work and written short commentaries to help readers better appreciate and understand the qu. The works collected in this book comprehensively showcase the style of Yuanqu. We have commented on each qu, using language that is easy to understand, making it accessible to young readers. The book includes qu works from various periods of the Yuan Dynasty, such as: "A Single Roar in Autumn at Haimen," "Willows Swaying in the East Wind," and "Dancing Phoenix and Swallowing Sparrows—Exquisite and Wonderful."