A thousand kinds of charm

Author: Chen Donggen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: At a banquet, Li Shangyin met Jin'er, and their eyes met for a moment, instantly captivating each other. But who was Jin'er—Linghu Chu, the beloved courtesan of his benefactor, and Linghu Tao, the favored maiden of the young master. Their feelings burned fiercely, yet they could only secretly convey their longing. "On the upper floor, dusk longs to be ended, but the jade ladder is blocked, the moon like a hook. The banana leaves do not unfurl, the lilac knots tie together, both facing the spring breeze, each in sorrow." The poem attached at the end of the letter truly charmed Jin'er! Based on the concentration and readability of the story, this book specially selects ten poets and lyricists from the Tang to the Song dynasties, using their poetry as clues to trace their lives. From the perspective of combining ancient and modern, and catering to both refined and popular tastes, it weaves together a series of timeless tales. These ten geniuses are from the Tang Dynasty: Bai Juyi, Yuan Zhen, Li Shangyin, Du Mu, Wen Tingyun, and Han Wang; and from the Song Dynasty: Liu Yong, Su Shi, Yan Jidao, and Qin Guan. They largely showcase the romanticism of the Tang and Song eras. The author has drawn a fresh and engaging story from the dusty pages of professional research, using authentic historical records, reliable poetry, and detailed biographical anecdotes, hoping to guide readers closer to the versatile and compassionate scholar of over a thousand years ago, to understand the migrating scholars and poetic souls who gradually fade away.