Ci Collection of Li Jing

李璟Bashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.1

Word count: 192 words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

One of the ci works of Li Jing, a ci poet of China's Tang dynasty.

Editor's review

Li Jing's surviving ci are few, yet he is remembered in literary history as a key link in the ci style of the Southern Tang ruler and ministers. Published by Bashu Press, this book is suitable as an introductory text for understanding the evolutionary thread of Five Dynasties ci: one can see the mournful, clear, and distant lyrical temperament in Li Jing's ci, and also observe traces of Southern Tang ci transitioning from the lingering influence of Huajian toward more personal and more somber expression. For general readers, its value lies not in great length but in achieving much with little; a few representative works can present a subtle and deeply gentle emotional manner. For those studying ci history, it can serve as a starting point for reading the ci of the two Southern Tang rulers as a whole, and reading it against Li Yu's ci especially reveals the continuation and change in the father and son's styles. Read slowly, note imagery, tone, and layers of feeling in the ci; do not seek to finish it all at once—it is better suited to repeated savoring. Reading it together with the historical background of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and general knowledge of ci development will make its position and weight easier to appreciate.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in classical Chinese ci who wish to enter through Five Dynasties ci
Chinese majors and enthusiasts studying Southern Tang ci or the thread of ci history
Readers who enjoy subtle, graceful, short texts suitable for repeated recitation

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting long systematic biographies or detailed historical textual research
Readers who prefer modern vernacular, fast-paced reading, and do not wish to engage with classical Chinese language

Reading tips

First read all the ci in the book, mark the lines that move you most, then return to close-read their context and emotional turns.
Read in comparison with Li Yu's ci, noting similarities and differences in subject, tone, and imagery between father and son.
Read alongside a brief history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and general knowledge of ci development to help locate Li Jing's ci historically.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
李璟词集

FAQ

Is Li Jing's ci collection suitable for readers with no foundation in ci studies?

It can serve as an introductory reader, but be prepared: Li Jing's ci are short and subtle in language, and may seem not "lively" enough at first. It is advisable to start with a few representative works, use annotations and background notes to understand the meaning, then gradually expand; do not insist on fully understanding at once.

Why should reading Li Jing's ci be connected with Southern Tang history?

Li Jing lived in the period when Southern Tang went from prosperity to decline, and the emotions in his ci are often related to the atmosphere of the times. Understanding the political situation of Southern Tang and the ci style of ruler and ministers helps readers understand the subtle sorrow and clear, distant temperament in the works, rather than stopping at literal meaning.

What is the relationship between this book and reading Li Yu's ci?

Li Jing and Li Yu were father and son, both important authors of Southern Tang ci. Reading Li Jing's ci first and then Li Yu's makes it easier to see the advance of ci style from subtle grace toward deeper personal lyric expression, and to understand more clearly the place of Southern Tang ci in Five Dynasties ci history.

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About the author

李璟 Author

Li Jing is an author in the field of classical Chinese poetry, though publicly available information about his life is rather limited: his dates of birth and death, native place, and nationality are not clearly recorded, and his English name is not definitively known. The database currently holds two of his works, The Complete Ci of Li Jing and The Collected Ci of Li Jing, commonly classified under classical poetry and classic works. Judging from the surviving pieces, his writing centers on ci, with themes that mostly concern the emotions and scenery familiar to traditional literati, paying attention to the harmony of tone and rhythm and to the creation of mood. His language is concise and restrained, showing the distinctive rhythm and lyricism of the classical ci form. These works provide a basic basis for later readers to understand his creative profile and offer reference material for the collation and study of classical ci texts. Because public information is limited, his life experiences, social connections, and artistic background cannot yet be described in detail, and these questions await further investigation.