Complete Ci Poems of Liu Kezhuang

全宋词Jul 2024

4.5

Word count: 31K words
Chapters: 50

Summary

This collection of ci poetry is part of the Complete Song Ci. The ci form originated in the Southern Liang, took shape in the Tang, and reached its peak 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 people in the Northern and Southern Song left ci poems to posterity, with a total of nearly 20,000 works. These figures alone convey the extraordinary scale of composition at the time. Song ci mainly falls into two styles, the "graceful and restrained" and the "bold and unconstrained," each exquisite in its own way and each reaching its own height, together forming a rich and varied whole.

Editor's review

Liu Kezhuang was a major ci poet of the late Southern Song. His work combines the bold and the graceful styles and is especially known for its tendency toward argumentation and prose-like phrasing, giving him a transitional significance in the history of Song ci. This book, a thematic compilation of Liu Kezhuang's ci from the Complete Song Ci, gathers Liu's ci poems scattered across various volumes into one place, making it easier for readers to gain a systematic understanding of this Southern Song master. For readers studying the evolution of late Southern Song ci style and the relationship between the Jianghu poetry school and ci scholarship, it is a practical foundational text. Reading it, one can feel both the somber, desolate grief for country and nation in Liu's ci and his exploration of and breakthroughs in the formal aspects of the genre. The book is suitable as a desk reference or as a base text for thematic study; reading it alongside Liu Kezhuang's poetry collection and relevant literary histories is recommended for a full view of his creative output.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Classical literature students specializing in Southern Song ci scholarship and the Jianghu poetry school
Lovers of classical poetry who favor the bold and unconstrained strain of Song ci
Academic writers who need to consult the original text of Liu Kezhuang's ci
Readers who wish to understand the mindset of late Southern Song literati through ci

Not a good fit for

Beginners who want only simple Song ci anthologies and lack a foundation in classical Chinese
Popular-audience readers expecting modern vernacular annotations and detailed appreciations
Readers interested only in Northern Song ci or poets of the orthodox graceful style

Reading tips

Begin by reading the preface or publisher's note to understand the source text and editorial conventions, then study the poems one by one.
As you read each ci, note allusions and place names, and consult Song historical works to understand the compositional context.
Read alongside the ci of Su Shi and Xin Qiji to compare the evolution of bold-style ci in the late Southern Song.
Do not rush; closely read three to five poems a day and recite them repeatedly to better appreciate their argumentative character.

版权信息
哨遍
六州歌头
水调歌头
沁园春
汉宫春
念奴娇
解连环
木兰花慢
摸鱼儿
转调二郎神
长相思
昭君怨
生查子
满江红
水龙吟
风流子
满庭芳
贺新郎
洞仙歌
八声甘州
烛影摇红
祝英台近
最高楼
风入松
临江仙
浪淘沙
凤凰阁
法驾导引
一翦梅
踏莎行
玉楼春
鹊桥仙
柳梢青
鹧鸪天
卜算子
朝天子
清平乐
好事近
菩萨蛮
忆秦娥
西江月
朝中措
水调歌头
贺新郎
满江红
水调歌头
乳燕飞
水龙吟
附刘克逊《水调歌头》

FAQ

Is this book the complete ci of Liu Kezhuang?

This book is compiled from Liu Kezhuang's ci as collected in the Complete Song Ci and is a thematic gathering of his ci works, sufficient for general readers and researchers in searching and reading. For the specific scope of inclusion and arrangement, please refer to the publisher's note in the book.

Can I understand it without a foundation in classical Chinese?

Liu Kezhuang's ci contains many allusions and marked argumentative tendencies, so it demands some classical Chinese reading ability. If you have no foundation at all, it is advisable to start with annotated Song ci anthologies before coming to this book; the reading experience will be better.

Is it suitable for academic citation?

This book is a thematic compilation of content from the Complete Song Ci and can serve as a reference for consulting the original text of Liu Kezhuang's ci. For academic citation, verify the edition information of the original Complete Song Ci and note the specific publication information of this book to ensure citation standards are met.

Comments

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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.