The Ci Poems of Li Yu

Name: The Ci Poems of Li Yu
ISBN: 9787551821643

Li YuShaanxi Sanqin Publishing House · ChinaDec 2021

4.3

Word count: 36K words
Chapters: 65
ISBN: 9787551821643

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Summary

Li Yu's ci poems represent the finest of the delicate, restrained style; together with Li Qingzhao they are known as the "Two Li." In the history of ci poetry they have drawn such comments as "The Son of Heaven of the Southern Dynasties loved romance, but alas was fated to be a monarch" and "A misfortune for the historian, a fortune for the poet." The man and his verse have long been favorite subjects in later literary circles. Lines such as "When will the spring flowers and autumn moon end," "How much sorrow can you bear," "In life we forever regret the waters flowing east," "Carriages like flowing water, horses like dragons," "Parting grief is just like spring grass, growing again the farther you go," "Flowing water, fallen blossoms, spring has gone," "Heaven above, the world of men below," and "boundless rivers and mountains" are all works that please both refined and popular taste and have been handed down through the ages. This volume collects the complete extant ci poems of Li Yu's life, with an appendix of doubtful attributions, a chronological table of his life's major events, a biographical sketch by Zhou Xinglu, professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University, and ci poems by his father Li Jing. The illustrations are drawn from works by Qiu Ying and other painters in Chinese history; subjects range from Qing court-academy paintings reflecting palace life to meticulous flower-and-bird paintings imbued with the Hua Jian sensibility, and expressive works voicing melancholy over lost rivers and mountains, unifying the feeling of the ci with that of the paintings.

Editor's review

Li Yu's ci are grounded in the pain of a fallen kingdom and the sorrow of a life of regret; his language is clear and natural, his feeling sincere and direct. This volume collects all his extant ci, with doubtful attributions, a chronological table of his life, and a biographical sketch by Professor Zhou Xinglu, balancing text and context so readers can grasp the poetic world by knowing the man and his times. Paintings by Qiu Ying and other masters are paired with the poems, setting palace life, meticulous flower-and-bird works, and expressive landscapes side by side, so that poetic sentiment and pictorial mood illuminate each other. For readers new to the delicate style who want a sense of Five Dynasties ci, or who wish to read Li Yu alongside the history of the Southern Tang, this complete and well-appended edition is a fitting choice. Reading a poem or two on the commute or before bed, together with the chronology and biography, makes the shift from ornate to somber in his style all the clearer.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of classical literature who love the delicate style and want a systematic reading of Li Yu
History and literature enthusiasts seeking the Southern Tang context and Li Yu's life
Beginners hoping to cultivate an interest in ci through words and images
Primary and secondary school language teachers looking for supplementary teaching materials

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers who prefer rigorous textual collation and detailed annotation
Readers with no interest in classical poetry who want modern vernacular stories
Readers expecting thorough theoretical analysis of ci poetics

Reading tips

Read the poems first, then the appended chronology and biography, to build a know-the-man-and-his-times order.
For each poem, compare the accompanying painting to sense how poetic and pictorial moods echo each other.
Read Li Yu and Li Jing side by side to feel the continuity and change in Southern Tang ci.
Mark doubtful attributions first and return to judge their authenticity after finishing the main body.

About the publisher

Shaanxi Sanqin Publishing House China · Founded in 1985

Founded in 1985, Shaanxi Sanqin Publishing House focuses on the collation of ancient books and works on literature and history, maintaining a sustained commitment to classical literature and historical reading. Its books in the database consist mainly of collated editions of Chinese classics, such as recent editions of Journey to the West, Dream of the Red Chamber, Water Margin, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, often issued in complete or multi-volume sets for systematic reading; works such as A New Account of the Tales of the World and Tao'an Mengyi: A Newly Annotated Complete Translation emphasize annotation and popularization. Its author resources include original authors such as Wu Cheng'en, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, and Shi Nai'an, as well as critics, editors, and researchers such as Jin Shengtan, Mao Zonggang, Liu Yiqing, and Liu Qiang. Common categories include classical literature, literary appreciation, classic works, historical reading, military studies, and ancient poetry, reflecting a publishing approach that combines the collation of classic texts, critical appreciation, and the popularization of literature and history. As public information is limited, this overview of its publishing directions is based only on the books in the database.

版权信息
李煜词
虞美人
乌夜啼
一斛珠
子夜歌
临江仙
望江南
望江南
清平乐
采桑子
喜迁莺
乌夜啼
长相思
捣练子令
浣溪沙
菩萨蛮
望江南
望江南
菩萨蛮
菩萨蛮
阮郎归
浪淘沙
采桑子
虞美人
玉楼春
子夜歌
谢新恩
谢新恩
谢新恩
长相思
谢新恩
谢新恩
破阵子
浪淘沙令
渔夫
渔夫
乌夜啼
李煜存疑词附录一
更漏子
蝶恋花
三台令
开元乐
捣练子
柳枝
忆王孙
忆王孙
忆王孙
忆王孙
浣溪沙
更漏子
南歌子
鹧鸪天
鹧鸪天
青玉案
秋霁
断句
李璟词附录二
应长天
望远行
浣溪沙
浣溪沙
帝台春
后记附录三
李煜大事年表附录四

FAQ

Does this book include all of Li Yu's ci poems?

It collects all his extant ci, with doubtful attributions in an appendix, keeping main works and uncertain pieces separate so readers can distinguish confirmed from questionable texts.

Do the paintings help in understanding the poems?

The illustrations are works by Qiu Ying and other painters across dynasties, covering palace life, meticulous flower-and-bird painting, and expressive landscape, echoing the palace atmosphere, Hua Jian sensibility, and longing for the lost kingdom in the poems, and helping readers sense the poetic world.

Who wrote the appended biography?

The appended biography is by Zhou Xinglu, professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University; it is accompanied by a chronology of major life events and ci by his father Li Jing, helping readers understand the man, his times, and his family literary background.

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About the author

Li Yu Author · Chinese

Li Yu, originally named Congjia, courtesy name Chongguang, style name Zhongyin, commonly known as Li Houzhu (the Last Lord Li), was the last ruler of the Southern Tang during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He was versed in music and skilled in calligraphy and painting, and is especially renowned for his ci poetry. His early works mostly depict palace life in an ornate style; after the fall of his state, his verse turned sorrowful and profound, often expressing longing for his lost country and grief over his fate. Representative works include "Yu Meiren" and "Langtaosha Ling," and later generations honored him as the "Emperor of Ci through the Ages." The library holds thirteen of his works, including The Complete Works of Li Yu, The Ci Collection of Li Yu, and The Collected Works of Li Yu, as well as appearances in series such as the Ci Series and Essential Records of Ci Collections by Masters Through the Ages, mainly in the categories of classical poetry and literary appreciation. His ci is sincere and moving, natural in language, and has had a profound influence on later ci poetry.