Willow Branch Songs
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought are especially distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and extensive. This series, "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture," preserves the original appearance of the texts and focuses 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 learning.
Editor's review
Bai Juyi's "Willow Branch Song" is a graceful work among Tang dynasty yuefu imitations. It uses the image of the willow to link parting, the passage of time, and reflections on life; its language is plain and its aftertaste lingers. This book is included in the series "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture," preserves the original appearance of the text, and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. It is suitable as a light reader for understanding Bai Juyi's poetic style and the aesthetics of classical poetry. Its value lies not in elaborate textual research but in giving readers direct access to the literary essence left by ancient sages, cultivating temperament through recitation. When reading, one may combine it with Bai Juyi's consistently plain and natural poetic style to appreciate the emotional weight the willow image carries in classical poetry. It is suitable for keeping on one's desk for casual browsing and also as introductory recitation material for Chinese studies; those seeking detailed annotations or academic research should consult specialized annotated editions.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers who love classical poetry and want easy access to Bai Juyi's works
- Primary and secondary school students and Chinese teachers who need recitation materials for Chinese studies
- Literature enthusiasts interested in the willow image and Tang dynasty yuefu
- Desk readers who want to cultivate their temperament in fragmented time
Not a good fit for
- Professional researchers who need detailed annotations, collation, or academic textual research
- Readers who expect a systematic understanding of Bai Juyi's life and complete creative output
Reading tips
- Read through once to feel the rhythm, then use the annotations to understand the words and context.
- Connect the willow image with the themes of parting and the passage of time and take reading notes.
- Read alongside other Tang poems on willows to compare different poets' approaches.
- Suitable for reciting one or two pieces a day, maintaining a light and sustained reading rhythm.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 杨柳枝词
- 【大堤曲】 李善夷
- 【金灯】 卢溵
- 【和李尚书命妓饯崔侍御】 卢溵
- 【对酒】 赵牧
- 【南歌子词三首】 裴諴
- 【新添声杨柳枝词】 裴諴
- 【夏杪登越王楼临涪江望雪山寄朝中知友】 于兴宗
- 【东阳涵碧亭（《金华志》：兴宗宝历初令东阳创此亭）】 于兴宗
- 【奉酬绵州中丞以江山小图远垂赐及兼寄诗】 李朋
- 【奉酬于中丞登越王楼见寄之什】 杨牢
- 【赠舍弟】 杨牢
- 【句】 杨牢
- 【和绵州于中丞登越王楼见寄（时为同州刺史）】 李续
- 【和绵州于中丞登越王楼作】 李汶儒
- 【和于中丞夏杪登越王楼望雪山见寄】 田章
- 【和绵州于中丞登越王楼作】 薛蒙
- 【和绵州于中丞登越王楼作】 李邺
- 【和绵州于中丞登越王楼作二首（时为校书郎）】 于瑰
- 【和于中丞登越王楼】 王严
- 【题越王楼寄献中丞使君】 刘暌
- 【秋日登越王楼献于中丞】 李渥
- 【洋州于中丞顷牧左绵题诗越王楼上朝贤继和辄课四韵】 刘璐
- 【和于中丞登越王楼作】 卢栯
- 【飞鸿响远音】 李体仁
- 【春愁】 韩琮
- 【牡丹（一作咏牡丹未开者）】 韩琮
- 【兴平县野中得落星石移置县斋】 韩琮
- 【题商山店】 韩琮
- 【风】 韩琮
- 【云】 韩琮
- 【露】 韩琮
- 【霞】 韩琮
- 【颍亭】 韩琮
- 【咏马】 韩琮
- 【题圭峰下长孙家林亭】 韩琮
- 【牡丹】 韩琮
- 【雨】 韩琮
- 【京西即事】 韩琮
- 【公子行】 韩琮
- 【秋晚信州推院亲友或责无书，即事寄答】 韩琮
- 【晚春江晴寄友人（一作晚春别）】 韩琮
- 【凉州词】 韩琮
- 【暮春浐水送别（一作暮春送客）】 韩琮
- 【骆谷晚望】 韩琮
- 【二月二日游洛源】 韩琮
- 【柳（一作和白乐天诏取永丰柳植上苑，时为东都留守）】 韩琮
- 【杨柳枝】 韩琮
FAQ
Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese?
This book preserves the original appearance of the text and focuses on transmitting traditional literature; its language is relatively plain and suitable for readers with basic classical Chinese reading ability. If you have no foundation in classical Chinese at all, it is recommended that you read with an annotated edition or under the guidance of a Chinese teacher, first clarifying the words and phrases and then appreciating the poetry.
What is "Willow Branch Song" mainly about?
"Willow Branch Song" is Bai Juyi's imitation of yuefu, built around the willow image. It mostly writes of parting, the passage of time, and reflections on life; its language is plain and natural, with a graceful folk-song quality, and it is best appreciated on the levels of image and emotion.
Can this book be used as an introduction to Chinese studies?
It can serve as a light reader for an introduction to Chinese studies. It belongs to the series "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture" and preserves the original appearance of the text, making it easy to encounter classical poetic texts directly; however, if you need systematic study of Chinese studies, you should also pair it with other classics and annotated readers.
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About the author
Bai Juyi
Author · Chinese
Bai Juyi (772–846), courtesy name Letian and styled Xiangshan Jushi, was born in Xinzheng, Henan, with ancestral roots in Taiyuan. A leading Tang dynasty realist poet, he championed the New Yuefu movement together with Yuan Zhen, and the two were known as "Yuan-Bai"; he is also paired with Liu Yuxi as "Liu-Bai." Bai Juyi served as a Hanlin academician and Left Remonstrator, among other posts. His wide-ranging work includes satirical poems on the hardships of ordinary people and long narrative and lyrical songs. Masterpieces such as "Song of Everlasting Sorrow," "Song of the Pipa," and "The Charcoal Seller" are noted for their plain, natural language and sincere feeling, and have exerted a lasting influence on later poetry. His Bai Shi Changqing Collection survives, and this library holds 77 of his works, including poems, prose collections, and verse groups such as Poems from Qin and Spring by the Xunyang River, commonly classed under ancient poetry, classic works, and inspirational growth.
