Selected Song Ci
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Summary
Song Ci Xuan, in two juan, is a selected anthology of fifty-three ci by twelve master poets of the Northern and Southern Song. The arrangement follows a reverse-chronological method, beginning with the Southern Song and proceeding back to the Northern Song, from the near to the far. Preceding each poet are a brief biography, an account of the textual history of his ci collection, and critical evaluations through the ages; following each ci are first collation notes, then metrical analysis, then commentary. The selections and discussions alike reflect the author's distinctive views on ci scholarship, and his detailed analyses of the compositional craft of the selected ci opened the way for later generations of ci appreciation. The book was a university textbook, begun in Beijing in 1927, revised and finalized in Chongqing in 1941, and published by Zhengzhong Shuju in 1947.
The other three works are Shengzhi, Jiushi Yuese Zhai Citan, and Jiushi Yuese Zhai Lun Ci Zazhu, together with supplementary materials on Chen Feishi.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Lovers of classical literature seeking a systematic, in-depth understanding of Song ci
- Students in university Chinese departments and scholars of classical literature, for whom it serves as an important reference and guide
- Readers with some grounding in poetry and ci who wish to sharpen their appreciative and analytical skills
- Students of literature and history interested in ci criticism and scholarly method
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking only light, recreational reading and with no interest in deep textual analysis
- Complete beginners to classical literature who expect fully vernacular annotation
Reading tips
- Begin by reading Chen Feishi's general introduction to grasp his conception of ci scholarship and the logic of the anthology's arrangement
- Read in the book's reverse-chronological order, using the commentary before and after each piece to examine its analytical approach
- Keep an authoritative complete anthology of Song ci at hand, to situate the selections within the broader context of each poet's work
About the publisher
Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 宋词举
- 凡例
- 叙
- 卷上 南宋六家
- 张炎
- 王沂孙
- 吴文英
- 姜夔
- 史达祖
- 辛弃疾
- 卷下 北宋六家
- 周邦彦
- 秦观
- 苏轼
- 贺铸
- 柳永
- 晏幾道
- 声执
- 叙
- 卷上
- 卷下
- 旧时月色斋词谭
- 旧时月色斋论词杂著
- 复堂词跋
- 校清真集跋
- 宋词赏心录跋
- 致邵次公书
- 与黄公渚书
- 中兴鼓吹序
- 附录
- 陈匪石先生传略
- 读陈匪石先生《宋词举》
- 金陵书画社1983年版《宋词举》后记
- 怀念匪石师
- 先父陈匪石生平二三事
FAQ
What are the criteria for selecting ci in Song Ci Xuan?
What is the style of the commentary in this book?
What is the book's most distinctive feature compared with other Song ci anthologies?
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About the author
Chen Feishi is a writer on ci studies about whose life relatively little is known. Public information is limited, and no clear records of his birth and death dates, native place, or educational background are available. What can be confirmed is that two of his works survive, Song ci ju and Sheng zhi, commonly classified under literary appreciation. Judging from the titles and orientation of these two works, Chen Feishi's writing focuses on the selected reading of Song ci and the exposition of ci poetics. Song ci ju guides readers toward understanding famous Song ci authors and their works through illustrative examples, showing a clear emphasis on appreciation and teaching, while Sheng zhi leans toward discussion of ci prosody, rhyme and tonal patterns, and compositional method, reflecting attention to the formal norms of the genre. One concentrates on interpreting works and the other on analyzing metrical rules, so the two complement each other and can serve as references for beginners and enthusiasts of ci studies. Because biographical materials are scarce, his scholarly background and sphere of influence are difficult to examine in detail, and readers should rely chiefly on the works themselves.
Zhong Zhenzhen is an author about whom limited public information is available. Two works can currently be confirmed under this name: Song Ci Ju and Listening to Rain in the Small Building. Judging from these titles, his writing spans literary appreciation and modern poetry. Song Ci Ju belongs to the selection and appreciation of classical ci poetry, focusing on presenting the artistic character of Song ci and offering readers a way into it, which requires a corresponding grounding in classical literature. Listening to Rain in the Small Building falls into the category of modern poetry, suggesting that his work is not confined to commenting on classical texts but extends to personal poetic writing. One work looks to the past and the other to the present, one devoted to appreciation and interpretation, the other to lyric expression, indicating an interest in writing practice alongside reading and study. Because reliable records of his life, background, and output are lacking, no inferences are made here; the known titles are used only to indicate his general range and orientation, and further details await additional sources.
