Folk Ballads Ancient and Modern

Yang ShenNanhai Publication Company · ChinaSep 2023

3.3

Word count: 20K words
Chapters: 7

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Summary

This is Gujin Fengyao (Ancient and Modern Folk Songs), by Yang Shen.

Editor's review

Gujin Fengyao gathers folk songs from successive eras, compiled and edited by Yang Shen, tracing an oral-literature lineage from the pre-Qin period to recent times. Its value lies in continuing the tradition of collecting folk songs begun with the Book of Songs, letting readers observe folk life, feeling, and social conditions through song, with both literary appeal and historical reference. The songs are short and vivid, their language plain, making the book a suitable introduction to classical texts and folk culture; Yang Shen's editorial perspective also offers clues to how Ming scholars viewed folk literature. It is best read as a browsable collection: follow the dynastic order to trace change, or pick short pieces to savor, using the notes to understand wording and context. Attention to the social information behind the songs is often more rewarding than appreciation of the text alone.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in classical poetry and folk literature
Beginners studying folklore, social history, and oral tradition
Readers who wish to approach ancient daily life through songs

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting full annotations and detailed textual scholarship
Readers seeking only a systematic general history
Those impatient with classical Chinese song texts

Reading tips

Read through the selections first, then group them by dynasty or theme to trace the evolution of the songs yourself.
Treat the short songs as notebook reading, jotting excerpts and looking up unfamiliar words as you go; there is no need to finish in one sitting.
Read alongside other folk-literature anthologies to compare editorial emphases and textual differences.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
古今风谣
正文一
正文二
正文三
正文四
正文五

FAQ

Can I read this book without a background in classical literature?

Yes. Folk songs are mostly close to spoken language and short, so the barrier to entry is lower than with many poetry and prose collections. Use the notes and reference works for unfamiliar characters and words; there is no need to parse every word. Grasp the situation and tone of each song first, and reading will go more smoothly.

Is this book suitable for reading straight through?

It is better suited to reading in installments and skipping around. The songs are not necessarily linked by a strict logic; you can read them by dynasty or subject, or pick only the short pieces that interest you. Revisiting them yields more than a single straight read for appreciating their language and folk flavor.

How can I draw out the historical value of the songs?

Pay attention to information about labor, courtship, politics, and customs reflected in the songs, and read the texts against their historical background. A single song offers limited information, but placed side by side, many songs often reveal clues to popular sentiment and social change.

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About the author

Yang Shen Author · Chinese · 1488–1559

Yang Shen (1488–1559), courtesy name Yongxiu and styled Shengan, was a native of Xindu, Sichuan, and a Ming dynasty literary scholar and historian. He came first in the imperial examination of 1506 and served as a Hanlin compiler and imperial lecturer. In 1524, during the Great Ritual Controversy, he was flogged at court and exiled to Yongchang Guard in Yunnan, where he spent more than thirty years and died. The lyric "Immortals by the River: The Rolling Yangtze Flows East" is traditionally attributed to him. The History of Ming calls him foremost in breadth of memory and abundance of writings, which numbered over four hundred and were later collected as the Shengan Ji. Thirteen of his works are included here, among them Cipin, Twenty-One Histories Ballads, Shengan Shihua, Mochi Suolu and Shishuo Jiu Zhu, spanning词 criticism, ballads, poetry talks, notes on calligraphy and painting, and annotation of old texts—broad in subject and both scholarly and appreciative in value.