Complete Yuan Qu 103

Feng Xueli / 薛鸿鹏The Commercial Press · ChinaJan 2021

3.4

Word count: 43K words
Chapters: 20

Summary

Yuan Drama Complete: Volume 103. Yuan drama (qu) is a newly emerging literary form, generally divided into zaju (variety plays) and sanqu (scattered songs). It produced great writers and many outstanding works, and has exerted a profound influence on literary history. Sanqu grew out of the popular songs and folk tunes of the Jin dynasty; the vast majority belong to the northern qu tradition and include xiaoling (short lyrics) and taoshu (song suites). More than 3,800 xiaoling and over 450 taoshu survive today. There are more than 205 named authors, among them, in the early period, Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, and Bai Pu, and in the later period, Qi Ji, Zhang Kejiu, Sui Jingchen, Zhang Yanghao, and Liu Shizhong. Because sanqu were often used as lyrics sung by singing girls at banquets, romantic songs are relatively numerous, but there is also no lack of xiaoling on scenery, lyric expression, and meditation on the past, as well as taoshu that satirize customs and criticize contemporary abuses; famous examples include Ma Zhiyuan's "Borrowing a Horse," Liu Shizhong's "To High Commissioner Gao," and Sui Jingchen's "The Emperor Gaozu Returns to His Hometown." Yuan zaju originally circulated in the Shanxi and Hebei region, and in the early Yuan flowed

Editor's review

This book is one volume of Complete Yuan Drama, compiled on the basis of the original Republican-era Commercial Press edition. It takes Yuan drama, a newly emerging literary form, as its subject and covers both zaju and sanqu. Yuan drama bridges past and future in literary history. Sanqu developed from the popular songs and folk tunes of the Jin dynasty and mostly belongs to the northern qu tradition, comprising xiaoling and taoshu; more than 3,800 xiaoling and over 450 taoshu survive, with more than 200 authors whose names can be verified. Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, and Bai Pu in the early period and Qiao Ji, Zhang Kejiu, Sui Jingchen, Zhang Yanghao, and Liu Shizhong in the later period form a clear authorial lineage. The selections preserve both the more romantic side of banquet performance lyrics and xiaoling on scenery, lyric expression, and meditation on the past, as well as taoshu satirizing customs and criticizing contemporary abuses; masterpieces such as Ma Zhiyuan's "Borrowing a Horse," Liu Shizhong's "To High Commissioner Gao," and Sui Jingchen's "The Emperor Gaozu Returns to His Hometown" offer glimpses of the diversity of Yuan drama's subjects and styles. The typography and textual appearance of the original Republican-era edition also have reference value for studying textual transmission and modern collation of ancient books. It is suitable for reading through as an anthology of Yuan drama and for comparative study alongside the zaju section, allowing readers to feel the stylistic tension of sanqu as it moved from popular to refined and came to embrace both.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Lovers of classical literature who wish to read representative Yuan sanqu systematically
Chinese literature students who need to read primary Yuan drama texts alongside literary history courses
Yuan drama researchers interested in the appearance of the original Republican-era Commercial Press edition
Enthusiasts of drama and popular literature who want to understand the xiaoling and taoshu forms of sanqu

Not a good fit for

Beginners completely unfamiliar with classical Chinese and qupai terminology who cannot get started without annotations
Casual readers seeking only contemporary vernacular translations or popular introductions
Readers expecting a complete collection of all Yuan zaju scripts; this volume focuses on sanqu selections

Reading tips

Read through the selected xiaoling first, then the taoshu, to appreciate the difference between short lyrical pieces and extended narrative suites.
Following entries on authors such as Guan Hanqing and Ma Zhiyuan, trace the development of sanqu in early-to-late order.
Mark qupai and dialectal expressions as you go, consult reference works, then return for close reading.
Read alongside an anthology of Yuan zaju, noting thematic connections between sanqu lyrics and dramatic plots.

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
状元堂陈母教子
楔子
第一折
第二折
第三折
第四折
包待制三勘蝴蝶梦
楔子
第一折
第二折
第三折
第四折
刘夫人庆赏五侯宴
楔子
第一折
第二折
第三折
第四折
第五折

FAQ

Does this series collect zaju or sanqu?

According to the source material, Complete Yuan Drama is generally divided into zaju and sanqu. This volume focuses on sanqu, including xiaoling and taoshu, while also addressing the overall landscape of Yuan drama as a newly emerging literary form, so readers can judge whether it suits their needs.

Is the subject matter of the sanqu in this book limited to romantic songs?

Not at all. The source notes that sanqu, often used as lyrics sung by singing girls at banquets, contain relatively many romantic songs, but there is also no lack of xiaoling on scenery, lyric expression, and meditation on the past, as well as taoshu satirizing customs and criticizing contemporary abuses, such as Ma Zhiyuan's "Borrowing a Horse," Liu Shizhong's "To High Commissioner Gao," and Sui Jingchen's "The Emperor Gaozu Returns to His Hometown." The subject matter is fairly diverse.

What significance does the original Republican-era edition have for ordinary readers?

The original Republican-era Commercial Press edition preserves the typography and textual appearance of modern collation of ancient books, offering reference value for studying the textual transmission of Yuan drama and the history of modern publishing. Ordinary readers can also experience a reading experience different from modern annotated editions, though some grounding in classical Chinese and qu studies is needed.

Can I understand it without annotations?

Yuan sanqu make heavy use of northern colloquialisms and qupai terminology, so readers with no foundation will find it difficult. It is advisable to first learn about the sanqu system and representative authors through literary history textbooks, then use reference works to look up qupai, dialect, and allusions, gradually entering the original texts.

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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.