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Overcast Again

Rating 3.5
Word count
11K words
Chapters
49

Tags

Summary

Refu Yin is a poetry collection.

Editor's review

Presented as a poetry collection, Refu Yin offers a glimpse into Guan Hanqing's creative world and opens a small window for readers to rediscover this master of Yuan drama. Guan Hanqing is known chiefly for his zaju plays, while his poems are relatively unfamiliar to the general public; this book provides a welcome opportunity to read his poetic texts in one place. The language is concise and the feeling sincere, combining cool observation of worldly affairs with expressions of personal aspiration. It can be read alongside his dramatic works, helping readers understand his overall literary taste and spiritual character. This 2024 edition from Tibet People's Publishing House is suitable both for casual bedside reading and for focused study. Readers may wish to slow down, attend to the selection of imagery and the handling of rhythm, and appreciate how Guan Hanqing, moving from stage to page, speaks in another mode. For those who love classical poetry, study Yuan literature, or wish to broaden their understanding of Guan Hanqing, this book is worth reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • General readers who love classical poetry and want to broaden their reading
  • Scholars of Yuan literature who need Guan Hanqing's poetic texts
  • Readers interested in Guan Hanqing's zaju who want to know his poetry
  • Bedside readers who enjoy concise short pieces and can dip in at any time

Not a good fit for

  • Beginners expecting systematic annotations and detailed introductions
  • Readers who prefer long narratives and plot-driven progression
  • Readers who only want Guan Hanqing's representative zaju and are not interested in his poetry

Reading tips

  1. Read through once to feel the overall tone, then choose favorite pieces for repeated close reading.
  2. Read alongside selections from Guan Hanqing's zaju to appreciate the differences in expression across genres.
  3. Keep a pen handy to mark imagery and word choice, and review your notes after finishing.
  4. Read three to five poems at a time; there is no need to rush—focus on savoring rhythm and feeling.

About the publisher

Tibet People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1971

Tibet People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for collating Tibetan and Chinese ancient texts and publishing traditional culture. Judging from the books in its catalogue, its publishing focuses on medicine, Eastern philosophy, classics, and ancient poetry. It offers traditional Chinese medical and health-preserving works such as the Compendium of Materia Medica, Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold, and Principles of Correct Diet, as well as canonical and philosophical texts including the Book of Changes, Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Annotated Edition of the Erya, and Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals, along with historical and geographical works such as The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores. Its authors include figures such as Li Shizhen, Sun Simiao, King Wen of Zhou, Zuo Qiuming, Guo Pu, Dong Zhongshu, Hu Sihui, and Ma Huan. The house emphasizes the collation and republication of ancient texts, balancing scholarship and accessibility, and has developed its own strengths in transmitting Tibetan and Chinese cultural classics. Public information is limited, so other publishing details are omitted here.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 【行官张望补稻畦水归】杜甫
  3. 【催宗文树鸡栅】杜甫
  4. 【园官送菜】杜甫
  5. 【上后园山脚】杜甫
  6. 【驱竖子摘苍耳(即卷耳)】杜甫
  7. 【秋行官张望督促东渚耗稻向毕清晨遣女奴阿稽竖子…往问】杜甫
  8. 【阻雨不得归瀼西甘林】杜甫
  9. 【雨】杜甫
  10. 【雨二首】杜甫
  11. 【晚登瀼上堂】杜甫
  12. 【又上后园山脚】杜甫
  13. 【雨】杜甫
  14. 【甘林】杜甫
  15. 【雨】杜甫
  16. 【种莴苣】杜甫
  17. 【暇日小园散病,将种秋菜,督勒耕牛,兼书触目】杜甫
  18. 卷二百二十二
  19. 【八哀诗?赠司空王公思礼】杜甫
  20. 【八哀诗?故司徒李公光弼】杜甫
  21. 【八哀诗?赠左仆射郑国公严公武】杜甫
  22. 【八哀诗?赠太子太师汝阳郡王琎】杜甫
  23. 【八哀诗?赠秘书监江夏李公邕】杜甫
  24. 【八哀诗?故秘书少监武功苏公源明】杜甫
  25. 【八哀诗?故著作郎贬台州司户荥阳郑公虔】杜甫
  26. 【八哀诗?故右仆射相国张公九龄】杜甫
  27. 【写怀二首】杜甫
  28. 【可叹】杜甫
  29. 【观公孙大娘弟子舞剑器行】杜甫
  30. 【往在】杜甫
  31. 【昔游】杜甫
  32. 【壮游】杜甫
  33. 【遣怀】杜甫
  34. 【同元使君舂陵行】杜甫
  35. 【李潮八分小篆歌】杜甫
  36. 【览柏中允兼子侄数人除官制词因述父子兄弟四美载歌丝纶】杜甫
  37. 【听杨氏歌】杜甫
  38. 【荆南兵马使太常卿赵公大食刀歌】杜甫
  39. 【王兵马使二角鹰】杜甫
  40. 【狄明府(博济。一作寄狄明府)】杜甫
  41. 【秋风二首】杜甫
  42. 【久雨期王将军不至】杜甫
  43. 【别李秘书始兴寺所居】杜甫
  44. 【虎牙行(虎牙在荆门之北,江水峻急)】杜甫
  45. 【锦树行(因篇内有锦树二字摘以为题非正赋锦树也)】杜甫
  46. 【赤霄行】杜甫
  47. 【前苦寒行二首】杜甫
  48. 【后苦寒行二首】杜甫
  49. 【晚晴】杜甫

FAQ

What kind of work by Guan Hanqing is this book?
Refu Yin is a poetry collection containing Guan Hanqing's poems. Guan Hanqing is usually known for his zaju plays; this book lets readers focus on his poetry, which can be read alongside his dramatic works.
Can I understand it without a background in classical literature?
You can read it, but it takes some patience. The poems are concise, and without annotations some words and images may need looking up. It is best to read through first for the feel, then examine each piece with reference books—don't expect to understand everything at once.
Is it suitable for reading straight through from beginning to end?
A poetry collection is better read in scattered sessions. Reading a few poems at a time, with time to reflect and look things up, makes it easier to appreciate the rhythm and feeling than reading it all in one go. You can also start with shorter, easier pieces.

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About the author

Guan Hanqing Author · Chinese · 1230–1300

Guan Hanqing (c. 1230–1300) was a Yuan dynasty playwright and a founder of Yuan zaju drama. He was known by the courtesy name Yizhaisou and was a native of Dadu (present-day Beijing). He served as a physician in the Imperial Medical Academy and led the zaju writers' group Yujing Shuhui. Over his lifetime Guan wrote more than sixty zaju plays, of which eighteen survive, including The Injustice to Dou E, Saving a Courtesan, and The Single Sword Meeting. His works draw on folk life and historical stories, are written in plain, natural language, and feature vivid characters and strong dramatic conflict. He is ranked first among the Four Masters of Yuan Qu, together with Bai Pu, Ma Zhiyuan, and Zheng Guangzu, and is honored as the Sage of Qu. The library holds seventeen of his works, including The Injustice to Dou E and other representative plays, selected dramatic works, and a complete collection of his Yuan qu, making them important sources for understanding the art of Yuan zaju.

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