A Comprehensive Anthology of Ming Ci Poetry

王昶Jul 2024

4.0

Word count: 73K words
Chapters: 13

Summary

The Chinese traditional cultural thought has a long history, marked by high originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of traditional Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Classic Chinese Studies Essence and Culture Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original books, with emphasis on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese studies.

Editor's review

Ming Ci Zong is an anthology of Ming dynasty ci poetry compiled by Wang Chang of the Qing dynasty. This edition is presented in the "Classic Chinese Studies Essence and Culture Original Texts" series, preserving the appearance of the original book and emphasizing the preservation and transmission of traditional thought and culture. Its value lies in providing readers with an anthology for concentrated understanding of the landscape of Ming dynasty ci poetry; through the selected works, one can glimpse the creative orientations and aesthetic tastes of Ming writers in the ci genre. As a book in the category of classical text compilation, it is closer to a documentary reader than to popular explanation, and reading it requires some foundation in classical Chinese and poetry. It is suitable for slow reading at one's desk, used in conjunction with discussions of Ming literary history and the history of ci poetry; one can both feel the literary charm of the ci works and appreciate the period tastes behind the anthologist's eye. For readers who wish to systematically encounter Ming dynasty ci poetry, this is an anthology that can serve as an introductory thread.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Ming literature and ci studies who have some feel for classical Chinese
Students of ancient literature who need to understand the landscape of Ming dynasty ci anthologies
Traditional culture enthusiasts who enjoy slow reading of classical texts and cultivating their temperament through ci poetry

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners with no foundation in classical Chinese who want vernacular explanations
People expecting modern annotations and piece-by-piece appreciation, seeking a relaxed reading experience

Reading tips

First read through the table of contents, pick works by familiar ci poets to try, and build an understanding of the book's structure
Read three to five pieces a day, jotting down unfamiliar allusions and words for focused lookup
Read alongside chapters on Ming literary history or the history of ci studies to understand the period context of the anthology

版权信息
卷一
卷二
卷三
卷四
卷五
卷六
卷七
卷八
卷九
卷十
卷十一
卷十二

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese?

Not very suitable. This book preserves the appearance of the original, emphasizing the preservation and transmission of traditional thought and culture; the ci works and prefaces are mostly in classical Chinese, with no modern vernacular explanation. If you have no foundation in classical Chinese at all, the reading threshold is relatively high; it is advisable to first use an annotated anthology of Ming ci to develop a feel for the language, then return to this book.

Does reading Ming Ci Zong require supporting materials?

It is advisable to use supporting materials. This book is a documentary reader preserving the original appearance; readers may prepare a history of Ming literature or a history of ci studies to understand the ci concepts of the anthologist Wang Chang's time; for allusions and uncommon words, consult reference works. Reading in comparison helps better understand the compilation intent of the anthology and the place of the selected ci works.

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About the author

王昶 Author

Wang Chang's biographical information is very limited in publicly available sources; his native place, dates of birth and death, and educational background cannot be confirmed, so an understanding of him rests mainly on the three works collected here. Judging from these works, Wang Chang's writing spans several fields: Ming Ci Zong is a compilation of ci poetry that reflects his work in gathering and collating Ming and Qing ci; Ye Geng Lu: A Editor's Self-Selected Essays and Reviews collects his own commentary from an editor's perspective, marked by professional observation and personal reflection; and An Appreciation of Famous Lines from Shi, Ci, and Qu is aimed at the appreciation and popularization of classical poetry. The three works touch on categories including Eastern philosophy, language and writing, and literary appreciation, showing a combined orientation toward documentary compilation, editorial practice, and literary criticism. His writing generally emphasizes the arrangement of materials and close reading, in a plain style suitable for readers studying ci poetry and classical literature. Because public information is limited, this entry makes no further speculation about his life.