Three Hundred Chants
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Summary
Learning to write classical poetry is not only an effective way to enhance personal cultural cultivation, but also a concrete practice of passing on traditional Chinese culture; at the same time, it helps improve the ability to grasp the profound meaning of classical poetry and helps bring about a leap in thinking and expression. For older people, it can also help delay, or even prevent, the onset of dementia. In view of this, since the late twentieth century, and especially since the beginning of the twenty-first, a large number of retirees have taken up the study and writing of classical poetry.
Human society is richly colorful, and reform-and-opening China is especially brilliant. Truly, paintings meet the eye everywhere, and poems surge forth at every turn. Thus the Chinese Poetry Research Institute came into being on September 7, 2011. At its founding conference, Ma Kai, then State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council, made clear that efforts should be made to promote the inheritance, flourishing and development of Chinese poetry and to carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture.
As the tide of the times surged, after retirement I too presumptuously plunged into the stream of learning to write poetry. I have now compiled into one volume one hundred poems each on things around me, on various flowers, and on famous historical and cultural cities, entitled Three Hundred Recitations. This little grass that sprang up in its season under the blue sky may serve as a record of my inner journey in learning to write poetry. Omissions and errors are unavoidable; I beg your indulgence and ask for your corrections.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Older readers who began learning classical poetry after retirement and need reference samples by peers
- Students in poetry classes at universities for the elderly who want to see the complete creative practice of peers
- Readers who enjoy old-style poems in plain language about everyday matters, flowers, and cities
- Children and community workers who want to understand the spiritual and cultural life of contemporary older people
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting annotated selections of classic masterpieces or high-level poetry appreciation
- Advanced learners who need strict metrical tutorials and systematic poetry theory
- Young readers who prefer modern poetry or purely literary creation
Reading tips
- Read the author's preface first to understand his motivation for learning poetry and his writing background, then skip-read by the three subject categories.
- After finishing each section, try imitating one short poem on the same theme, turning reading into writing practice.
- When encountering a familiar city or flower subject, read with annotations comparing it to your own experience.
- Form a group with classmates from poetry class to read together, choosing five or six poems at a time to discuss strengths and weaknesses in meter and wording.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 自序
- 百事吟
- 百花吟
- 春歌
- 夏颂
- 秋吟
- 冬咏
- 百城吟
- 直辖市
- 华北
- 河北
- 山西
- 内蒙古
- 东北
- 黑龙江
- 吉林
- 辽宁
- 华东
- 山东
- 江苏
- 安徽
- 浙江
- 江西
- 福建
- 中南
- 河南
- 湖北
- 湖南
- 广东
- 广西
- 海南
- 西南
- 四川
- 贵州
- 云南
- 西藏
- 西北
- 陕西
- 甘肃
- 宁夏
- 新疆
- 香港
- 澳门
- 台湾
- 参考书目
- 后记
FAQ
Can I read this book without any foundation in poetry?
Is this book suitable for learning to write metrical poetry?
How are the three subject categories of one hundred poems each arranged?
Comments
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About the author
Liu Tingyan is a Chinese author about whom little public information is available. All that is currently known is that he wrote a work of classical poetry titled Three Hundred Recitations. According to the available records, he belongs to the common category of classical poetry, and although his output is small, it is enough to draw attention to his practice in traditional poetic forms. The title Three Hundred Recitations suggests that the work may consist chiefly of recitations, possibly numbering three hundred pieces and carrying the traditional sense of linked poetic recitation. As his dates of birth and death, native place, and life experience are not clearly recorded, little more can be said about his life or the background of his writing. For readers today, the most direct way to know Liu Tingyan is to read Three Hundred Recitations and to appreciate his poetic style through its language, imagery, and feeling. Further study of this author will depend on the discovery of more documents and historical sources.
