Complete Ci Poems of Liao Xingzhi
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Summary
This collection is part of the Complete Song Lyrics (Quan Song Ci). The ci form originated in the Southern Liang, took shape in the Tang, and reached its height 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 works to posterity, and their total output approaches 20,000 pieces. These figures alone suggest the scale of composition at the time. Song ci mainly falls into two stylistic schools, the "delicate and restrained" and the "bold and unconstrained," each exquisite in its own way and each reaching its own heights, rich and varied.
Editor's review
This book extracts Liao Xingzhi's ci from the Complete Song Lyrics and presents them as a standalone collection. Its value lies in giving readers a concentrated entry point for observing the creative profile of a second-tier master of the Southern Song. Liao's surviving ci are limited in number; precisely for this reason, a thematic compilation makes it easy to read them through in one sitting and compare them repeatedly, clarifying his tonal preferences, choice of subjects, and emotional register. Unlike reading the collections of major poets, reading a ci poet of this kind requires setting aside the expectation of "famous pieces" and focusing instead on his position in the ci world and the normal patterns of his daily writing. The book suits readers who already have experience reading Song ci and are willing to do close reading on a small scale, and it can also serve as supplementary material for a specialized course on Song ci or a reading group. Those expecting detailed annotations, vernacular translations, or a biography of the poet should not start with this book.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who have read several anthologies of Song ci and want to expand to non-first-tier ci poets
- Organizers who need a small collection of ci as close-reading material for a reading group
- Literature enthusiasts interested in the overall ecology of Southern Song ci rather than only famous pieces
- Readers willing to do statistics on ci tunes and subjects, using one poet as a sample
Not a good fit for
- Beginners who need line-by-line annotation and vernacular translation to read
- Readers who only want to read famous Song ci and have limited interest in non-master works
- Readers who expect to learn about Liao Xingzhi's life and deeds from this book
Reading tips
- First read through the whole collection, note the ci tunes and subjects that recur, then summarize the main focus of his writing.
- Choose three to five pieces and read them alongside works on the same subjects by contemporary ci poets, observing differences in treatment.
- After reading, consult the original Complete Song Lyrics to confirm attribution of pieces and textual variants.
- If organizing a reading group, closely read only two or three pieces per session, leaving ample time for discussion of wording and context.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 洞仙歌
- 念奴娇
- 贺新郎
- 水调歌头
- 沁园春
- 千秋岁
- 青玉案
- 满庭芳
- 凤栖梧
- 临江仙
- 西江月
- 鹧鸪天
- 卜算子
- 点绛唇
- 丑奴儿
- 如梦令
- 鹧鸪天
- 减字木兰花
FAQ
Does Liao Xingzhi have many ci works, and is this collection thick?
The materials do not give the exact number of surviving ci; this book is a compilation of the Liao Xingzhi portion of the Complete Song Lyrics, and its length should be judged by the actual contents. Readers should not assume its scale in advance; they may first look through the table of contents to understand the scope of the collection, then decide whether to read closely or straight through.
Why make a standalone collection of a non-master?
A standalone collection makes it easier to observe one ci poet's tonal choices, subjects, and expressive habits in a concentrated way, and to compare them with works of the same period. Small-scale reading of a second-tier ci poet can supplement the normal state of the ci world that is invisible when one reads only famous pieces; this is the main purpose of the thematic compilation.
Does the book include annotations and appreciation?
From the materials, this book is a compilation of ci works, and no annotations or appreciation are mentioned. Readers who need vernacular explanation should use an annotated anthology of Song ci instead; this book is better suited to people who already have some reading ability and can look up allusions and institutional terms on their own.
Can this book be used to understand the overall style of Southern Song ci?
It should not be relied on alone. This book collects only Liao Xingzhi's ci, a limited sample that cannot represent Southern Song ci as a whole. To understand the overall style, one should use the Complete Song Lyrics or a comprehensive history of ci as the framework, and use this book as a close-reading supplement for one poet.
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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.
