Selected Ci Poems from Xiangqi Tower

王闿运Jun 2024

3.6

Word count: 2.1K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive; religious theology, classical Chinese medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers, and other such materials are profound and comprehensive. This series, "Essential Classics of Chinese Culture: Original Texts," preserves the appearance of the original books 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 quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Xiangqi Lou Ci Chao is a collection of ci poems by the late Qing scholar Wang Kaiyun, gathering the ci poems preserved in his Xiangqi Lou. Wang Kaiyun was renowned as a scholar of the classics and a writer of poetry and prose, and his ci poems likewise carry a strong literati flavor; he paid close attention to meter and rhyme, took an elegant path, and often conveyed feelings about his life and reflections on his times. This book belongs to the series "Essential Classics of Chinese Culture: Original Texts" and aims to preserve the appearance of the original book, allowing readers to glimpse the ci-poetic tastes and creative achievements of late Qing Hunan literati. For readers studying modern ci history, Hunan culture, or Wang Kaiyun's writings, this is indispensable primary material; for ordinary lovers of classical poetry, it also offers a chance to appreciate, in slow reading, his care in crafting words and using allusions. One need not read quickly; it is best to combine the book with Wang Kaiyun's life and the late Qing political situation in order to read the deeper sentiments beneath the elegant and polished phrases.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars studying modern ci history and Hunan culture
Lovers of classical poetry who enjoy late Qing literati ci works
Researchers in literature and history interested in Wang Kaiyun's writings
Readers who wish to collect editions that preserve the appearance of original classics of Chinese learning

Not a good fit for

Beginning readers who prefer plain vernacular Chinese and modern poetry
Novice poetry readers expecting detailed annotations and vernacular translations
Readers seeking a fast-paced, plot-driven reading experience

Reading tips

First read through once to grasp the overall character, then choose memorable ci poems for repeated recitation.
Combine Wang Kaiyun's life and late Qing historical background to understand the feelings conveyed in the ci poems.
Look up allusions in reference books as you go, building knowledge of ci poetics and classical history.
Read alongside works by other late Qing ci poets to appreciate similarities and differences in style.

版权信息
湘绮楼词钞

FAQ

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

Not very suitable. This book preserves the original appearance of the text and consists mainly of ci poems, lacking line-by-line vernacular annotation; readers without a foundation in classical Chinese or basic knowledge of ci poetics will find it considerably difficult. It is advisable to first read annotated anthologies of classical poetry to build a foundation before coming to this book.

What is the difference between Xiangqi Lou Ci Chao and Xiangqi Lou Ping Ci?

Xiangqi Lou Ci Chao collects Wang Kaiyun's own ci poems and is a collection of his creative works; Xiangqi Lou Ping Ci is a compilation of his commentary on other people's ci poems and is a work of ci criticism. The former focuses on appreciating the ci poems themselves, while the latter focuses on understanding his views on ci poetics and his critical eye.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

It is advisable first to understand Wang Kaiyun's life experience, the social upheavals of the late Qing, and the basic metrical conventions of the ci genre. This background helps in understanding the feelings about his life and the intent behind allusions in the ci poems, and also in better grasping his position in the modern ci world.

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About the author

王闿运 Author

Wang Kaiyun was a scholar and man of letters active from the late Qing into the early Republic. Public information about his life and official career is limited, and the Chinese book database currently holds five of his works. His representative work, Xiangjun zhi (A History of the Hunan Army), recounts the rise and fall of the Hunan Army in the manner of privately compiled history; written with a rigorous hand and carrying occasional judgments, it holds a distinctive place in modern historical writing. Xiangqi lou ci chao and Xiangqi lou ping ci show his accomplishment in both composing and appreciating ci poetry, containing his own verses as well as comments on earlier writers. The database classifies his works under classics, culture, history, literary appreciation, and Eastern philosophy, reflecting writings that span historical chronicles, literature, and intellectual criticism. His prose is plain and concise, combining moral argument with literary grace, and will suit readers interested in modern cultural history and classical-style poetry.