The Complete Ci Poems of Liu Yizhi
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Summary
This collection is part of the Complete Song Ci. Ci poetry began in the Southern Liang, took shape in the Tang, and reached its zenith in the Song. Tang poetry and Song ci have long been regarded as twin peaks, each representing the literature of a major historical era. According to statistics, more than 1,300 poets of the two Song dynasties have ci works extant, and their total output approaches 20,000 poems! These figures alone convey the flourishing of composition at the time. Song ci mainly falls into two styles, the "delicate and restrained" and the "bold and unconstrained," each exquisite in its own beauty and each reaching its own height, rich and varied.
Editor's review
Liu Yizhi was a literary figure at the turn of the Northern and Southern Song, and his ci poems are scattered throughout the Complete Song Ci. This book gathers that portion separately, making it easier for readers to gain a concentrated view of this ci poet's creative profile. For readers already familiar with the overall landscape of Song ci, the value of such a individual collection lies in moving "from the whole to the particular": with an overall understanding of the more than 1,300 ci poets and nearly 20,000 works of the two Song dynasties, one can then focus on a specific poet and see more clearly the connection between individual style and the spirit of the age. This book is suitable as supplementary material for thematic reading on Song ci, and also for broadening one's knowledge of lesser-known ci poets beyond the two major styles of delicate/restrained and bold/unconstrained. It should be noted that this book is an arrangement of part of the Complete Song Ci, not an in-depth edition with detailed annotations; when reading, one should consult reference works and relevant knowledge of ci studies to better understand the words and background. Overall, this is a ci collection convenient for carrying and reading in fragments.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who already have a basic understanding of Song ci and wish to extend to lesser-known ci poets
- Literature enthusiasts engaged in thematic reading on Song ci or comparative case studies of individual ci poets
- Classical literature readers who like to dip into ci collections and savor short pieces
- Language teachers who need individual Song ci collections as reference for teaching or writing
Not a good fit for
- Beginners seeking detailed annotations, modern translations, and appreciation
- Researchers expecting systematic ci theory or literary-historical discussion
- General readers who only want to read famous pieces by masters such as Su Shi and Li Qingzhao
Reading tips
- Read through once first, mark favorite lines, then go back to check words and allusions.
- Read alongside the overall table of contents of the Complete Song Ci to understand Liu Yizhi's place in ci history.
- Read only three to five poems at a time, copy out fine lines and write brief impressions, avoiding trying to do too much.
- Read in comparison with works by contemporary ci poets to appreciate changes in ci style at the turn of the two Song dynasties.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 洞仙歌
- 夜行船
- 念奴娇
- 踏莎行
- 虞美人
- 江城子
- 临江仙
- 雪月交光
- 望海潮
- 醉蓬莱
- 望明河
- 蓦山溪
- 生查子
- 清平乐
- 青玉案
- 梦横塘
- 西河
- 眼儿媚
- 水调歌头
- 鹧鸪天
- 木兰花
- 浣溪沙
- 点绛唇
- 临江仙
- 蓦山溪
- 念奴娇
- 柳梢青
- 鹊桥仙
- 浣溪沙
- 点绛唇
- 望海潮
- 青玉案
- 喜迁莺
- 踏莎行
- 浣溪沙
FAQ
Is this book the complete ci of Liu Yizhi?
This book is a gathering of the portion of Liu Yizhi's ci works in the Complete Song Ci; the title "complete ci" refers to the inclusion of his extant ci works. Note, however, that it is an arrangement of part of the Complete Song Ci and does not include detailed annotations or collected commentary; readers who wish to study in depth should still consult the original Complete Song Ci and related ci studies materials.
Can I read this collection directly without any foundation in Song ci?
You can read it, but there will be a certain threshold. The book has no line-by-line annotations or modern translations; when encountering rare words, allusions, and cipai (tune pattern) and metrical rules, you will need to look them up yourself. It is recommended to first read some annotated anthologies of Song ci and gain an understanding of basic concepts such as cipai and the delicate/restrained versus bold/unconstrained styles before reading this book; the experience will be better.
Why is there no introduction to the author's life in the book?
This book is positioned as a gathering of ci works that form part of the Complete Song Ci, with the focus on the works themselves; it does not elaborate on the author's life and creative background. Readers who wish to learn about Liu Yizhi the person and his times may consult related materials such as histories of Song literature, dictionaries of ci poets, or the author biographies in the Complete Song Ci.
Is this book suitable for research on Song ci?
It can serve as one of the basic texts for research, but is not suitable as the sole basis. It facilitates concentrated reading of Liu Yizhi's ci works, but lacks collation notes, annotations, and edition information. For academic research, the authoritative edition of the Complete Song Ci should be used as the standard, with reference to relevant textual research and commentary in ci studies.
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About the author
全宋词
Author
Quan Song Ci (Complete Song Ci) is not a single ci poet but the compiler name used for the dynastic anthology of Song ci; this site lists 114 works under that author entry. Public information is limited, so no personal biography can be confirmed. The titles indicate edited collections of individual Song poets, including complete ci by major figures such as Xin Qiji and Li Qingzhao, as well as works by Chao Buzhi, Zhang Lei, Chen Shidao, Liu Kezhuang, Jiang Kui, and Liu Chenweng from various periods of the Song. These editions generally aim to preserve, collate, recover, and annotate the surviving ci, keeping the original character of the texts while making each poet's works accessible for reading and for research on themes, tonal patterns, and stylistic change. The series reflects the philological approach of dynastic compilations and serves as a bridge between popular access to classical texts and scholarly study of ci, and is commonly classified under ancient poetry.
