The Collected Ci of Liu Yuxi

刘禹锡Bashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

Rating 4.3

Word count: 493 words
Chapters: 12

Summary

Liu Yuxi's Ci is a modern and contemporary fiction book written by Liu Yuxi (Tang Dynasty).

Editor's review

This book is a collected volume of Liu Yuxi's ci works. Liu Yuxi was a politician and man of letters of the Tang Dynasty, accomplished in both prose and poetry: his "Inscription on a Humble Room" is a model of classical prose, and the three essays of "On Heaven" are important texts of ancient naive materialism; his poetry inherited the Dali poetic style while introducing new changes, skilled in allusion yet flowing in tone, rich in diction yet smooth in brushwork, brimming with a vigorous air and an upright verve, earning him Bai Juyi's praise as a "poetic hero." Through the dedicated form of a ci collection, readers can encounter in concentrated fashion this side of his verse creation and feel the language style and sentiment shared with his poetry and prose. It suits classical literature enthusiasts as extended reading and facilitates reading alongside his famous poems and essays for a more complete impression of the author. Reading should be done at a leisurely pace, with attention to allusion and tone, and no need to finish it in one sitting.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Enthusiasts who already know Liu Yuxi's poetry and prose and wish to extend their reading to his ci works
Students of classical literature who need to consult his ci texts in concentrated form
Readers who enjoy Tang verse and are willing to read slowly and savor the language style
Readers preparing reading notes or short papers on a Liu Yuxi topic

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking plot-driven reading who prefer modern and contemporary fiction
Beginners who struggle with classical Chinese and have no reference tools at hand
Readers who only want famous pieces such as "Inscription on a Humble Room" and have no interest in a ci collection

Reading tips

First browse the table of contents to gauge the scale of the pieces, then read selectively by interest; no need to plow straight through.
While reading, compare with Liu Yuxi's famous poems and essays to appreciate how his vigorous style continues in his ci.
Mark allusions when encountered and look them up together after finishing a piece, to avoid constantly breaking the rhythm.
Arrange to recite a small number of pieces daily, build up a feel for the language, then return for a full read-through.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
1.竹枝词
2.竹枝词
3.竹枝词
4.竹枝词
5.杨柳枝
6.杨柳枝
7.浪淘沙
8.浪淘沙
9.潇湘神
10.潇湘神
11.杨柳枝

FAQ

What is the difference between this book and The Complete Ci of Liu Yuxi?

Both are Liu Yuxi ci-related books published by Bashu Publishing House in 2024; the specific scope of included pieces and arrangement should be checked against the actual table of contents. If you seek a more complete collection of ci works, check the complete edition's contents first; if you only need to read his ci in concentrated form, this book can meet basic needs.

Do I need to read Liu Yuxi's poetry before reading this ci collection?

Not strictly necessary, but helpful. Sources note that his poetry is skilled in allusion yet flowing in tone, rich in diction yet smooth in brushwork, and his ci style shares this. Reading some representative poems first lets you grasp his language habits and vigorous temperament more quickly, making the ci smoother to read.

Is it suitable as extracurricular reading for middle school students?

It depends on the student's classical Chinese level. Middle school students with some grounding can read selected pieces with teacher or annotation support; those with less classical Chinese accumulation are advised to start with Liu Yuxi's famous pieces in textbooks before considering extended reading of the ci collection.

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About the author

刘禹锡 Author

Liu Yuxi is a well-known poet in the history of classical Chinese literature. Publicly available sources offer limited information about his life, native place, and dates of birth and death, so this page makes no conjecture on those points. This site holds fourteen of his works, spanning classical poetry, prose and miscellaneous writings, as well as the categories of social fiction, social science, and Eastern philosophy. Representative titles include The Complete Ci Poems of Liu Yuxi, Collected Ci Poems of Liu Yuxi, and pieces such as "Song of the Dim Mirror," "Presented to Liu Jing on Passing the Examination," "Seeing Off Attendant Censor Yang of the Taiyuan on an Early Autumn Return," "A Playful Reply to Letian," and "Inscribed on Vice Director Dou's New Residence in Chongde Lane on an Autumn Day." These works show that he wrote chiefly poetry, with some ci and occasional poems of exchange and inscription. His language is concise, his imagery clear, and he often draws on everyday scenes and human encounters, conveying feeling with subtlety and thought. His poems of reply also reflect his exchanges with literary contemporaries. Through these works readers may appreciate his poetic style and the pleasure of reading classical Chinese poetry.