Complete Yuan Qu 100

Feng Xueli / 薛鸿鹏The Commercial Press · ChinaDec 2020

3.4

Word count: 42K words
Chapters: 16

Summary

The Complete Yuan Qu is a newly emerging literary form, generally divided into zaju and sanqu. It produced great writers and many outstanding works, and has had a profound influence on literary history. Sanqu grew out of the popular ballads and folk tunes of the Jin dynasty; the vast majority belong to the northern qu, and include xiaoling and taoshu. More than 3,800 xiaoling and over 450 taoshu survive today. There are more than 202 named authors, among them Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, and Bai Pu in the early period, and Qi Ji, Zhang Kejiu, Sui Jingchen, Zhang Yanghao, and Liu Shizhong in the later period. Because sanqu was often used as song lyrics for banquet entertainers, there are many sensual songs, but there are also no lack of xiaoling on scenery, lyric expression, and reminiscence of the past, as well as taoshu satirizing worldly ways and criticizing current abuses; famous examples include Ma Zhiyuan's "Borrowing a Horse," Liu Shizhong's "To High Inspector Gao," and Sui Jingchen's "The Founder Returns Home." Yuan zaju originally circulated in the Shanxi and Hebei region, and in the early Yuan flowed

Editor's review

This is volume 100 of The Complete Yuan Qu, compiled on the basis of the original edition published by the Commercial Press in the Republican period, and its content centers on the zaju and sanqu of Yuan qu. As a newly emerging literary form, Yuan qu had a profound influence on literary history. Sanqu originated from the popular ballads and folk tunes of the Jin dynasty, was mainly in the northern qu mode, and includes xiaoling and taoshu. More than 3,800 xiaoling and over 450 taoshu survive today, with more than 200 authors whose names can be verified. Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, and Bai Pu in the early period, and Qi Ji, Zhang Kejiu, Sui Jingchen, Zhang Yanghao, and Liu Shizhong in the later period, formed an important lineup of Yuan qu composition. The book includes not only the sensual songs commonly found in banquet entertainers' lyrics, but also xiaoling on scenery, lyric expression, and reminiscence of the past, as well as taoshu satirizing worldly ways and criticizing current abuses. Famous pieces such as Ma Zhiyuan's "Borrowing a Horse," Liu Shizhong's "To High Inspector Gao," and Sui Jingchen's "The Founder Returns Home" are all among the works considered. This volume can serve as one component of the textual study and reference materials for Yuan qu, and is suitable for researchers and enthusiasts of classical literature.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers of classical literature who need to consult compiled texts from the original Yuan qu editions
Enthusiasts of drama and sanqu who wish to broaden their reading range
University students majoring in Chinese, for course assignments and paper references
Collection institutions, for supplementing the series of compiled texts based on Republican-era original editions

Not a good fit for

Readers new to Yuan qu who lack basic background knowledge will find it difficult
General readers seeking light entertainment, as the text is highly specialized
Readers accustomed to modern vernacular expression, who need some adjustment to read the original texts

Reading tips

First browse the table of contents to confirm the authors and pieces included in this volume, then plan a reading order
Read by author period: first the early writers Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, and Bai Pu, then the later writers
For taoshu works, first understand the story background, then read through the lyrics to reduce difficulty
Take notes on qupai and subject types for easy cross-reference with other volumes

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

"Republic-era Commercial Press Original Editions" refers to original books printed by The Commercial Press during the Republican period, not a separate publishing house. Judging from the 300 titles held in the collection, its publishing focus centers on classical poetry and lyrics, literary appreciation, classic works, military texts, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy. Representative titles include Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua, Zhong Rong's Shipin, the lyric collections of Xin Qiji and Liu Yong, Sun Wu's The Art of War, and Lü Buwei's Xianshi Lan. Its author resources are mainly classical writers, together with modern scholars such as Li Jingbang and Guo Huaruo, whose collations and annotations are also represented, giving the list a character centered on original texts while attending to annotation and appreciation. Public information on the precise Republican-era catalog and printings is limited; this overview is based only on the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
山神庙裴度还带
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赵盼儿风月救风尘
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邓夫人苦痛哭存孝
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FAQ

How is content divided among the volumes of The Complete Yuan Qu series?

Each volume includes Yuan qu texts according to the series arrangement; the specific pieces and distribution of authors should be checked in each volume's table of contents. This is volume 100, and it is recommended to confirm its scope by consulting the complete set's table of contents before reading.

How are the early and later writers mentioned in the book divided?

According to the materials, the early period includes Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, Bai Pu, and others, while the later period includes Qi Ji, Zhang Kejiu, Sui Jingchen, Zhang Yanghao, Liu Shizhong, and others, roughly reflecting representative authors of different stages of Yuan qu composition.

What is the difference between xiaoling and taoshu in sanqu?

Xiaoling are short works consisting of a single qupai, while taoshu are formed by linking multiple qupai in the same mode and are longer. Both belong to sanqu and are included in this book.

Is this book suitable for academic citation?

This book is compiled on the basis of the original edition published by the Commercial Press in the Republican period and has certain documentary reference value for understanding the appearance of early printed editions. For formal academic citation, it is recommended to also check authoritative compiled editions and related research materials.

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About the author

Feng Xueli Author

Feng Xueli is an editor engaged in the collation of ancient Chinese texts; public information about him is limited, and no authoritative record of his life, native place, dates of birth and death has been found. According to available records, in 1999 he edited the combined "Complete Tang Poems," "Complete Song Ci," and "Complete Yuan Qu," published by Inner Mongolia Cultural Press in sixteen volumes. He also co-edited "Complete Tang Poems" and "Complete Yuan Qu" with Xue Hongpeng. Fifty-six of his works are held in the collection, mainly individual volumes of the "Complete Yuan Qu" series, such as volumes 142 through 149. Classified under ancient poetry, these works reflect his focus on compiling and collating classical verse—Tang poems, Song ci, and Yuan qu—providing readers with a relatively systematic body of texts for studying ancient Chinese poetry and song.

薛鸿鹏 Author

Xue Hongpeng is an author for whom public information is currently limited; details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly recorded. According to Chinese book databases, 55 works appear under this name, mainly in the category of classical poetry, with representative titles being volumes 142 to 149 of the Complete Yuan Qu series. These works center on the compilation and presentation of Yuan dynasty sanqu and zaju texts, systematically assembling Yuan qu literature so that readers can consult material from this period in a concentrated way. The editing style tends toward documentary organization, emphasizing textual completeness and orderly arrangement, and serves the reading and research needs of enthusiasts of classical poetry and qu studies. Owing to the lack of biographical detail, little more can be said about the author's scholarly background.