Complete Yuan Qu 128

Feng Xueli / 薛鸿鹏The Commercial Press · ChinaJan 2021

3.7

Word count: 4.8K words
Chapters: 7

Summary

Quanyuanqu (Complete Yuan Qu) is a newly emerging literary genre, generally divided into zaju (variety plays) and sanqu (vernacular songs). It produced great writers and many excellent works and has had a profound influence on literary history. Sanqu grew out of the popular ballads and folk songs of the Jin dynasty; the vast majority belong to the northern qu, including xiaoling (short songs) and taoshu (song suites). More than 3,800 xiaoling and over 450 taoshu survive today. There are more than 232 authors whose names are known, among them, in the early period, Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, Bai Pu, and others, and in the later period, Qiao Ji, Zhang Kejiu, Sui Jingchen, Zhang Yanghao, Liu Shizhong, and others. Because sanqu were often used as songs for singing girls at banquets, there are many erotic pieces, but there is also no lack of xiaoling on scenery, lyric expression, and reflections on the past, and taoshu satirizing worldly ways and criticizing contemporary abuses; famous examples include Ma Zhiyuan's "Borrowing a Horse," Liu Shizhong's "To Superior Supervisor," and Sui Jingchen's "The August Ancestor Returns to His Village." Yuan zaju originally circulated in the Shanxi and Hebei regions, and in the early Yuan flowed

Editor's review

This volume complements the other fascicles of the Complete Yuan Qu and likewise uses the original Republican-era Commercial Press edition as its base text, suiting readers who need continuous access to Yuan qu materials. Yuan qu had a profound influence on literary history: sanqu arose from Jin-era popular songs and ballads, is chiefly in the northern mode, and includes both xiaoling and taoshu; a considerable body of works survives, with many identifiable authors. This volume helps readers trace the creative lines of early figures such as Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, and Bai Pu and later ones such as Zhang Kejiu, Sui Jingchen, Zhang Yanghao, and Liu Shizhong, and encounter themes ranging from landscape and lyric expression to historical reflection and social satire. As a reference work, its value lies in preserving the original edition and facilitating consultation rather than offering popular appreciation. It suits researchers in classical literature, opera enthusiasts, and library collections. Readers may compare it with other fascicles, noting textual differences and editorial arrangement, without feeling obliged to read it through.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Yuan qu researchers who need to consult the original-edition content fascicle by fascicle
Enthusiasts of classical Chinese opera seeking to understand the sanqu xiaoling and taoshu forms
Chinese literature faculty and students using it as supplementary material for Yuan-era literature courses
Special collections and rare-book staff concerned with Republican-era original editions as base texts

Not a good fit for

General readers seeking light reading and modern vernacular interpretation
Beginners who need full annotation, translation, and appreciation
Readers who find the layout of facsimile editions and traditional characters difficult

Reading tips

First check this volume's table of contents against the preceding fascicle to clarify scope and author distribution.
Select representative authors such as Guan Hanqing and Zhang Yanghao for close reading, using literary history textbooks for background.
Read xiaoling and taoshu side by side to appreciate differences in length, qupai, and mode of expression.
Build a title index or author cards for future consultation and cross-volume comparison.

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
尚仲贤
尉迟恭三夺槊
第一折
第二折
第三折
第四折

FAQ

Is this series a typeset edition or a facsimile?

The materials state only that the base text is the original Republican-era Commercial Press edition and do not specify facsimile or typeset. Before buying, readers should check the physical description or publisher information to confirm layout, typeface, and whether annotations are included, so as not to be disappointed.

How does this volume differ from Complete Yuan Qu 127?

Both volumes belong to the Complete Yuan Qu series and share the same authors and base text, but their fascicle numbers differ, so the works included and their arrangement should differ. For specifics, compare the tables of contents of the two volumes; the materials do not list detailed contents, so one cannot judge overlap or complementarity without evidence.

What background knowledge is needed to read Yuan qu?

It is advisable first to understand the basic forms: Yuan qu divides into zaju and sanqu, and sanqu into xiaoling and taoshu; become familiar with common qupai and the concept of the northern mode. For zaju, one should also know role types, stage directions, and dialogue. Begin with relevant chapters of a literary history or an annotated anthology before turning to original-edition 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.