Mulan Hall cover

Mulan Hall

Rating 3.7
Word count
3.4K words
Chapters
49

Tags

Summary

Li Shangyin (c. 813–c. 858), courtesy name Yishan, styled Yuxi (Xi)sheng and also Fanshan, was a celebrated late Tang poet. His ancestral home was Henei in Huaizhou (present-day Qinyang, Jiaozuo, Henan), and he was born in Xingyang, Zhengzhou (present-day Xingyang, Zhengzhou, Henan). He is known together with Du Mu as "Little Li-Du" and with Wen Tingyun as "Wen-Li."

Editor's review

This book centers on the late Tang poet Li Shangyin, using his native place, courtesy names, birth and death, and circle of associates as threads to present Yuxisheng's place in the late Tang poetic world. Li Shangyin is paired with Du Mu as "Little Li-Du" and with Wen Tingyun as "Wen-Li"; these labels are not merely common knowledge in literary history but also prompt readers to understand him within the late Tang atmosphere of sentiment, ornament, and oblique suggestion. In editing, its value as an introduction to "knowing the person to discuss the world" was foremost: readers can establish basic coordinates before entering specific poems, avoiding memorizing famous lines without understanding the man. The materials are concise, suitable as a desk companion for lovers of classical poetry, and also for browsing in fragments of time such as commutes or before sleep—first know the person, then savor the poems. For classroom or reading-group use, it can be read alongside Li Shangyin's famous works to form a reading chain of "life—style—works."

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers interested in late Tang poetry who wish first to learn the outline of Li Shangyin's life
  • Secondary school language teachers who can use it as background reference for lesson preparation
  • Beginners in classical literature seeking literary-historical coordinates such as "Little Li-Du" and "Wen-Li"
  • Reading-group members needing concise material on the figure and his era

Not a good fit for

  • Deep researchers expecting systematic annotation and poem-by-poem appreciation
  • Readers who want only Li Shangyin's original works and do not care about biographical background
  • Specialists needing rigorous scholarly research and textual collation

Reading tips

  1. Read through once, note Li Shangyin's courtesy names, native place, and pairings, and make a figure card.
  2. Then read famous works such as "Jin Se" and "Night Rain Sent North" alongside it to sense the link between life and style.
  3. Read in comparison with brief introductions to Du Mu and Wen Tingyun to understand the literary-historical meaning of "Little Li-Du" and "Wen-Li."
  4. Organize reading notes in three columns—life, associates, style—for easy future reference.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 卷627_7【寄远】陆龟蒙
  3. 卷627_8【庭前】陆龟蒙
  4. 卷627_9【洞房怨】陆龟蒙
  5. 卷627_10【江行】陆龟蒙
  6. 卷627_11【巫峡】陆龟蒙
  7. 卷627_12【归路】陆龟蒙
  8. 卷627_13【南塘曲】陆龟蒙
  9. 卷627_14【黄金二首】陆龟蒙
  10. 卷627_15【夕阳】陆龟蒙
  11. 卷627_16【残雪】陆龟蒙
  12. 卷627_17【古态】陆龟蒙
  13. 卷627_18【大堤】陆龟蒙
  14. 卷627_19【金陵道】陆龟蒙
  15. 卷627_20【离骚】陆龟蒙
  16. 卷627_21【对酒】陆龟蒙
  17. 卷627_22【寄南岳客乞灵芜香】陆龟蒙
  18. 卷627_23【山阳燕中郊乐录】陆龟蒙
  19. 卷627_24【偶作】陆龟蒙
  20. 卷627_25【有示】陆龟蒙
  21. 卷627_26【秋思三首】陆龟蒙
  22. 卷627_27【早春】陆龟蒙
  23. 卷627_28【怀仙三首】陆龟蒙
  24. 卷627_29【芙蓉】陆龟蒙
  25. 卷627_30【春思】陆龟蒙
  26. 卷627_31【风人诗四首】陆龟蒙
  27. 卷627_32【乐府杂咏六首·双吹管】陆龟蒙
  28. 卷627_33【乐府杂咏六首·东飞凫】陆龟蒙
  29. 卷627_34【乐府杂咏六首·花成子】陆龟蒙
  30. 卷627_35【乐府杂咏六首·月成弦】陆龟蒙
  31. 卷627_36【乐府杂咏六首·孤烛怨】陆龟蒙
  32. 卷627_37【乐府杂咏六首·金吾子】陆龟蒙
  33. 卷627_38【子夜四时歌·春】陆龟蒙
  34. 卷627_39【子夜四时歌·夏】陆龟蒙
  35. 卷627_40【子夜四时歌·秋】陆龟蒙
  36. 卷627_41【子夜四时歌·冬】陆龟蒙
  37. 卷627_42【大子夜歌二首】陆龟蒙
  38. 卷627_43【子夜警歌二首】陆龟蒙
  39. 卷627_44【子夜变歌三首】陆龟蒙
  40. 卷627_45【江南曲五首】陆龟蒙
  41. 卷六百二十八
  42. 卷628_1【陌上桑】陆龟蒙
  43. 卷628_2【自遣诗三十首】陆龟蒙
  44. 卷628_3【别墅怀归】陆龟蒙
  45. 卷628_4【野井】陆龟蒙
  46. 卷628_5【南征】陆龟蒙
  47. 卷628_6【北渡】陆龟蒙
  48. 卷628_7【夜泊咏栖鸿】陆龟蒙
  49. 卷628_8【早行】陆龟蒙

FAQ

Why is Li Shangyin called "Yuxisheng"?
The sources indicate Li Shangyin was styled Yuxi (or Xixi) sheng, and also Fan nan sheng. Such names were often taken from residence or state of mind; readers may use them as memory aids and understand them in light of the oblique, deeply tender quality of his poetry, but should not infer specific biographical details from them.
Who do "Little Li-Du" and "Wen-Li" refer to?
"Little Li-Du" refers to Li Shangyin and Du Mu, to distinguish them from the High Tang Li Bai and Du Fu; "Wen-Li" refers to Wen Tingyun and Li Shangyin. Both pairings indicate Li Shangyin's important place in the late Tang poetic world and point to his stylistic affinities and differences with contemporary poets.
Is this book suitable to read directly as a poetry collection?
Not really. Its materials focus on Li Shangyin's life and literary-historical relations; it is not a complete collection or annotated edition. Use it as background reading alongside a selected or complete edition of his poems—first know the person, then savor the poems, for better results.
How much classical literature background is needed before reading?
Reading experience with classical Chinese at the secondary school level suffices. The book contains many personal relations and pairings; beginners can first remember the two threads "Little Li-Du" and "Wen-Li" and gradually expand. Unfamiliar style names need not be memorized; look them up as you read.

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About the author

Li Shangyin Author · Chinese

Li Shangyin (c. 813–858), courtesy name Yishan and style name Yuxisheng, was a renowned poet of the late Tang dynasty whose ancestral home was in Huaizhou Henei (present-day Qinyang, Henan). He is often grouped with Du Mu as the “Little Li-Du.” His poems are notable for their novel conceits and rich, ornate style, and his untitled and love poems in particular are deeply tender and lingering. Representative works include “The Jeweled Zither” and the “Untitled” poems, and the Ming dynasty compiled his Li Yishan Poetry Collection. This library holds 24 of his works, including poetry anthologies and selections, as well as pieces such as “The Han Stele,” “Spring Rain,” “The Shrine of the Holy Maid,” “The Peonies of Huizhong Ruined by Rain II,” and “At a Drinking Feast, on Behalf of an Official Courtesan, Presented to Two Attendants,” along with a related collection in the series Classic Works of Ancient Chinese Literature: The Intoxicating Rhythms of Tang Poetry. Public information on the specific events of his life is limited, so this introduction focuses on the themes, style, and literary influence of his works.

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