The Songs of Chu: Translation and Annotation

Name: The Songs of Chu: Translation and Annotation
ISBN: 9787532563951

董楚平Shanghai Classics Publishing House · ChinaMay 2016

4.0

Word count: 131K words
Chapters: 33
ISBN: 9787532563951

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Summary

Unlike the Book of Songs, which contains exactly three hundred and five poems, the Songs of Chu has no fixed number of pieces. Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries on the Songs of Chu, for example, includes fu compositions as late as the Song dynasty, and later annotated editions likewise differ in scope; some cut away all Han dynasty works, ending with the "Great Summons." Research on the Songs of Chu generally takes the Warring States period works of the state of Chu as its object. This edition is based on Wang Yi's chapter-and-verse commentary, removing the Han dynasty pieces from "Vowing to Stay" onward — making it, in the strict sense, a complete reader of the Songs of Chu.

Editor's review

Chu Ci: A Translation and Annotation is Dong Chuping's systematic translation and annotation of the Chu Ci, a source of Chinese literature, into which he poured years of effort. The book is grounded in a rigorous scholarly attitude but does not fall into the trap of tedious textual criticism; its most notable value lies in the "readability" of the translation. Mr. Dong transforms the resplendent, strange, and emotionally unrestrained Chu dialect and mythological imagery of Qu Yuan's fu into lines of verse that retain classical charm while approaching the rhythm of modern Chinese, enabling ordinary readers to appreciate the deep, sonorous emotion and romantic passion behind the character "xi." Compared with other annotated editions, this book's annotations are concise and appropriate: they explain key glosses and historical background while avoiding over-interpretation, leaving room for readers to savor the text independently. Particularly noteworthy is its treatment of difficult pieces such as "Heavenly Questions," where, amid divergent scholarly views, it offers a clear and coherent interpretive path, reflecting the editor's deep learning and judgment. This is not merely a reference book but a learned guide who leads readers across time and space to confront Qu Yuan's painful, noble, and passionate soul and to feel the living source of the spiritual tradition of Chinese literati. For readers who wish to understand deeply rather than merely skim, this edition is an excellent choice.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a deep interest in the sources of classical Chinese literature, especially pre-Qin poetry and mythology
Literature lovers who wish to systematically study the Chu Ci text through a reliable translation and annotations
Professionals in Chinese or history teaching or research who need a reference book balancing scholarship and readability
Modern thinkers seeking spiritual nourishment and aesthetic experience from traditional culture

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking only plot summaries or quick appreciation of famous lines
Readers expecting highly popularized presentations such as abundant illustrations or vernacular story adaptations

Reading tips

First read through Mr. Dong's translation to feel the overall poetic quality and emotional thread, then read the original closely with the annotations
While reading, it is helpful to consult background materials on Warring States history and Chu culture to better appreciate the deeper implications of the text
Read core pieces such as "Li Sao," "Nine Songs," and "Nine Pieces" comparatively to appreciate the trajectory of Qu Yuan's emotions and thought

About the publisher

Shanghai Classics Publishing House China · Founded in 1956

Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.

版权信息
前言
离骚
九歌
东皇太一
云中君
湘君
湘夫人
大司命
少司命
东君
河伯
山鬼
国殇
礼魂
天问
九章
惜诵
涉江
哀郢
抽思
怀沙
思美人
惜往日
橘颂
悲回风
远游
卜居
渔父
九辩
招魂
大招
附录《史记·屈原列传》译注

FAQ

What are the main differences between this edition and other annotated editions of Chu Ci (such as Zhu Xi's Chu Ci Ji Zhu and You Guoen's Chu Ci Zhu Shu)?

The most prominent feature of Dong Chuping's edition is the modernity and balance of its translation and annotation. It inherits the rigor of traditional commentary, but the translation is closer to modern Chinese poetic expression, while the annotations strive for concision, focusing on clarifying meaning and highlighting key points rather than listing successive generations of textual scholarship. It is therefore more suitable for non-specialist researchers to systematically read and understand the essence of the original.

Is the translation of Chu Ci literal or free? Does it preserve the original rhythm?

Dong's translation adopts a strategy mainly of free translation while attending to word-and-sentence correspondence. He does not mechanically pursue word-for-word translation but strives to capture the emotional core and imagistic spirit of the original and reconstruct them in rhythmic modern poetic language. In terms of rhythm, he abandons the strict tonal patterns of classical poetry but recreates an inner recitative rhythm and momentum through the arrangement of long and short lines and the careful choice of words.

Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese at all?

With its accurate and fluent vernacular translation, the book can help readers with a weak classical Chinese foundation grasp the main ideas and emotions of each piece in the Chu Ci. However, it is still difficult for them to appreciate the original entirely without the annotations. Such readers are advised to take the translation as the main thread and use the annotations as an aid for understanding difficult points and background knowledge, proceeding step by step, and they too can benefit greatly.

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About the author

董楚平 Author

Dong Chuping is a Chinese author about whom little public information is available; details such as his birthplace, dates of birth and death, and educational background remain unclear, and three of his works are held in the collection. Judging from these works, his writing centers on the Chu Ci tradition: he is the author of An Annotated Translation of the Chu Ci and The Complete Illustrated Li Sao, with a duplicate record of the same annotated translation. These works belong to the editing and annotation of classical literature, combining textual explication with literary appreciation, and are often classified under Eastern philosophy and literary appreciation. His annotations focus on explaining the words, phrases, and names of things in Qu Yuan's works, and present the literary character of Li Sao together with illustrations, making the pre-Qin Chu Ci more accessible to general readers. Overall, Dong Chuping is known for his annotated translations and illustrated editions of the Chu Ci, which offer some reference value for the popular reading of this tradition.