Ci Poems of Guiyu
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive features: religious theology, medical classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysical learning, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original books, with emphasis on conserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate character and subtly encounter the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
Gui Yu Ci is a collection of ci poetry by the Southern Song poet Ge Lifang, included in this "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series, with the preservation of the original book's appearance as its priority. Ge Lifang's ci output is not large, yet it has a distinctive character: his subjects mostly concern seasonal festivals and scenery, poetic exchanges, and personal reflections, and his language is clear and gentle without losing strength—suitable as a slice for understanding the ecology of the ci world in the early and mid-Southern Song. Compared with the great masters of the heroic and delicate schools, he is more like a steady participant in the field, and readers can perceive from his works how the ci form was actually used in the daily life of scholar-officials. This reprint or recension preserves the old appearance, with typography and character usage close to the ancient, making it friendlier to readers accustomed to reading ancient books. When reading, one may place it within the context of Southern Song ci history and read it alongside contemporaneous writers, thereby sensing both individual feeling and the social connections and aesthetic orientations of a generation of literati. If one seeks only famous pieces and striking lines, this book may not satisfy; if one is willing to steep oneself patiently, there will be lasting sweetness.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- University students and scholars interested in Southern Song ci and the history of the ci genre
- Readers with some classical Chinese reading ability who wish to broaden their reading of ci collections
- Collectors who value the original appearance of ancient books and prefer facsimile or old-format recensions
- Enthusiasts of literature and history who wish to understand Southern Song literati daily life and social circles through ci works
Not a good fit for
- Beginners encountering classical poetry for the first time who need detailed annotations and vernacular translations
- General readers expecting a large number of famous works or a selection of fine pieces
- Readers uncomfortable with ancient typography and traditional characters who seek light reading
Reading tips
- First read the table of contents, group by subject or tune title, start with short tunes and short lyrics, then read long tunes.
- Keep a history of Southern Song ci or a reference work on ci studies at hand, consulting as you read for the author's social circles and the background of the tunes.
- When encountering unfamiliar words, first infer from context, then verify them together, avoiding frequent interruptions to the reading rhythm.
- After reading, choose three to five pieces for notes, comparing their similarities and differences with works in the same tunes by contemporaneous poets.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 葛立方《归愚词》
- 卜算子
- 水调歌头
- 水龙吟
- 玉漏迟
- 玉楼春
- 多丽
- 多丽
- 好事近
- 好事近
- 行香子
- 西江月
- 沙塞子
- 夜行船
- 雨中花
- 雨中花
- 春光好
- 春光好
- 风流子
- 风流子
- 浪淘沙
- 清平乐
- 朝中措
- 减字木兰花
- 减字木兰花
- 菩萨蛮
- 瑞鹧鸪
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 满庭芳
- 蝶恋花
- 锦堂春
FAQ
Can I understand Gui Yu Ci without annotations?
This book prioritizes preserving the original appearance, and annotation support is limited. Readers with basic knowledge of classical Chinese and the rules of poetry and ci can read through it; for allusions and unfamiliar words they will need to consult reference works themselves. If the foundation in classical Chinese is weak, it is advisable to first read a Southern Song ci anthology with detailed annotations as a foundation before entering this collection.
What are Ge Lifang's ci mainly about?
His ci mostly revolve around such everyday literati subjects as seasonal festivals and scenery, banquets and poetic exchanges, and reflections on personal aspirations; the style is clear, gentle, and plain. Readers can see from them how the ci form was actually used in literati life in the early and mid-Southern Song, rather than a face that wins through heroic boldness or ornate sensuality.
Is this book suitable as an introductory reading for poetry and ci?
Not very suitable. This book belongs to a series of Chinese classics that preserves the original appearance and lacks phonetic glosses, translations, and appreciation aimed at beginners, so the threshold for reading is rather high. Beginning readers should start with anthologies and annotated readers, and read this collection after accumulating some vocabulary and knowledge of prosody.
How can I get more out of reading Gui Yu Ci?
It is recommended to place it within the context of Southern Song ci history: while reading the works, learn about the writing and social circles of contemporaneous poets, and make comparisons of the same tunes or subjects. Write brief notes after reading, recording features of diction, imagery, and structure; this will accumulate a sense of ci poetics more than a single read-through.
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About the author
葛立方
Author
Publicly available information about Ge Lifang's life and official career is limited. What can be confirmed at present is that two works by this author are held in the collection, Yunyu Yangqiu and Guiyu Ci, commonly classified under folk literature and literary appreciation. Judging from the works that have come down to us, his writing covers both poetry criticism and ci composition: Yunyu Yangqiu, in the form of random notes and jottings, comments on poems and examines literary allusions, focusing on the merits and flaws of individual lines and on artistic technique, and thus has the character of literary appreciation, while Guiyu Ci shows that he also practiced the writing of ci. One work of criticism and one of creative writing, the two can be read together and help illuminate his literary interests. Owing to the limited material, the details of his life and the full scope of his works await further investigation and should not be over-inferred.
