Complete Poems of Yang Kui

全唐诗Jun 2024

3.1

Word count: 862 words
Chapters: 13

Summary

This poetry collection is part of the Complete Tang Poems. It was compiled by imperial order during the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty by Peng Dingqiu, Yang Zhongne, Shen Sanzeng, Pan Conglü, Xu Shuben, Che Dingjin, Wang Yi, Zha Sichens and Yu Mei, and Cao Yin was finally put in charge of the printing. It not only gives a full picture of the flourishing of Tang poetry but is also important material for the study of Tang history, culture and education.

Editor's review

Yang Kui's poems likewise come from the compilation of the Complete Tang Poems, and the most immediate benefit of a separate collection is a clear reading path: no repeated searching through vast volumes—one book in hand gives an overview of his surviving work. Yang Kui's poems mostly concern travel, social exchange and occasional reflection, in a plain, unadorned style with little polish, revealing a corner of late Tang poets' daily intercourse and states of mind. For researchers interested in the reception history of Tang poetry and individual cases of minor poets, such compiled editions provide a convenient textual basis; for ordinary classical poetry lovers, it is more like a quiet bypath, suited to slow reading rather than quick browsing. Note that this book is documentary in nature and does not aim to popularize or explain; readers should have reference works at hand and consult the original volumes and related historical sources to grasp its finer points.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Ancient literature researchers studying the late Tang poetic scene and individual minor poets
Collators of ancient books who need concentrated access to Yang Kui's surviving poems
Enthusiasts with classical Chinese reading ability willing to read obscure Tang poetry slowly

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking annotations, appreciation and background explanation
General readers who read only famous masters and have little interest in second- or third-tier poets

Reading tips

Read the gift-exchange and travel poems first to grasp the author's social circle and movements.
Compare with the corresponding volumes of the Complete Tang Poems and record textual differences.
Three to five poems at a time is enough; jot down recurring images and phrases.
Read alongside late Tang and Five Dynasties historical sources to understand the poems in their concrete time and place.

版权信息
宁州道中
寻九华王山人
金陵逢张乔
送邹尊师归洞庭
送日东僧游天台
题甘露寺
送张相公出征
题郑山人郊居
题宣州延庆寺益公院，咸通中入讲极承恩泽
寄当阳袁皓明府
送杜郎中入茶山修贡
送郑谷

FAQ

What is Yang Kui's standing in Tang poetry?

Yang Kui is not a first-tier master of Tang poetry; his surviving works are limited and mainly found in the Complete Tang Poems. His significance lies more in showing the actual writing and social networks of late Tang minor poets—a grassroots sample not to be overlooked in understanding the overall ecology of Tang poetry—rather than in famous pieces handed down.

Does this book have annotations and appreciation?

From the materials, this book is a compilation of content from the Complete Tang Poems, with no mention of annotations, vernacular translation or appreciation. Readers need some classical Chinese foundation and should look up allusions, place names and official titles themselves, or use it with an annotated Tang poetry selection.

Is it suitable as an introductory Tang poetry reader?

Not very. Beginners need annotated, explained readers with classic selections. The value of this book is in concentrating the surviving texts of a minor poet, better suited to readers with some foundation who read for research or close study.

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About the author

全唐诗 Author

"Quan Tang Shi" is not the name of an individual poet, but a comprehensive anthology of Tang poetry compiled during the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty. The attribution "Quan Tang Shi" actually stands for the group of editors behind this large imperially commissioned work. The anthology gathers a vast range of Tang poems, generally including all poets whose works survive, and the 287 items in this collection derive from it, comprising the complete works of poets such as Wang Wei, Li Bai, Li Shangyin, Du Mu, Chen Zi'ang, Cui Hao, Zhang Jiuling, and Bai Juyi. In subject and style, these works cover landscape and pastoral verse, frontier and military themes, historical reflection, and farewell and occasional poetry, offering a fairly complete picture of Tang poetry. Public information about the individual editors is limited; nevertheless, for its breadth and documentary value, the anthology has long been regarded as an important foundation for studying Tang poetry and for literary appreciation.