Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the intersection of classical Chinese literature and pictorial art
- Chu Ci enthusiasts who wish to deepen their understanding of the imagery and symbolism of Li Sao through images
- Scholars and students researching Ming–Qing printmaking, book illustration, or Xiao Yuncong's artistic style
- Readers seeking collectible books of profound cultural depth and distinctive aesthetic value
Not a good fit for
- Readers of popular books seeking light entertainment or fast-paced narrative
- Beginners expecting a complete modern vernacular translation of Li Sao
Reading tips
- It is recommended to first read through or review the original text of Li Sao to establish a basic textual impression, then appreciate the illustrations alongside it and experience the interplay between image and text.
- Pay particular attention to the choice of imagery and compositional layout in the paintings, and consider how Xiao Yuncong used visual language to interpret Qu Yuan's sorrow and romanticism.
- Combining the introduction or afterword on the author's life and historical context will enable a deeper understanding of the remnant-subject emotions and personal寄托 possibly embedded in the paintings.
About the publisher
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.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 离骚图
- 离骚图序
- 三闾大夫·卜居·渔夫
- 九歌
- 天问
- 钦定补绘萧云从离骚全图
- 四库全书总目提要
- 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
- 卜居
- 渔父
- 招魂
- 大招
- 九辩
- 香草
FAQ
Is this book the complete original text of Li Sao plus illustrations?
Does it require high artistic or classical Chinese literacy to understand?
What are the characteristics of this edition in terms of textual scholarship and print quality?
Comments
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About the author
Xiao Yuncong's biographical information is limited in publicly available sources; his dates of birth and death, nationality, and English name are not clearly recorded. According to the information available here, he is associated with the book An Illustrated Li Sao, which is classified under Eastern philosophy. Judging from the title, the work centers on Qu Yuan's Li Sao and presents the imagery, figures, and mythological elements of this famous Chu Ci poem through illustrations, making it a classical literary interpretation that combines text and images. Xiao Yuncong's style as a writer and illustrator should be understood through this work: it emphasizes conveying the symbolism and emotion of the text visually, making difficult verses perceptible and visible. Because surviving information is scarce, it is difficult to describe his life or scholarly lineage in detail; readers may instead focus on the subject matter and expressive methods of An Illustrated Li Sao, and through it appreciate how the ancient tradition of text-and-image works served the reading and transmission of classics.
Men Yingzhao: publicly available information about this author is limited, and neither nationality nor dates of birth and death are known. The library holds only one work under this name, the Complete Illustrations of the Li Sao. According to the existing catalog record, the book is classified under Eastern philosophy and centers on Qu Yuan's Li Sao, presenting the content and imagery of this famous Chu Ci poem through pictures. Illustrated and annotated editions of the Chu Ci are not uncommon in traditional scholarship, and Men Yingzhao's work belongs to this type of book, which uses visual means to aid understanding of the Li Sao; readers may use the illustrations to grasp the poem's mythological imagery, its metaphors of fragrant herbs and beautiful women, and its lyrical progression. Because so little verifiable biographical material exists, it is difficult to judge the author's scholarly background or the circumstances of composition, and excessive conjecture about style should be avoided. Overall, the value of the Complete Illustrations of the Li Sao lies in combining a literary classic with visual expression, offering an intuitive reference for studying the Li Sao and suiting readers interested in Chu Ci and Eastern philosophy.
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.