Ancient Ci for Children

Name: Ancient Ci for Children
ISBN: 9787531740155

采桑子Northern Literature and Art Publishing House (Beifang Wenyi Chubanshe) · ChinaJun 2024

3.8

Word count: 14K words
Chapters: 59
ISBN: 9787531740155

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Summary

This book selects more than 200 classical ci poems suitable for children. Ci is one of the important forms of Chinese literature, also known as long and short lines or quzi ci; it originated in the Tang Dynasty and matured in the Northern Song. Ci is a gem in the garden of classical Chinese literature, and this book selects many famous works suitable for children, letting them roam the ocean of classical ci. Reading this book, children will feel as if they have entered a vast palace of art, drawn in by the artistic charm of classical Chinese ci and greatly delighted in body and mind. Recite classics, pass on civilization through the ages. Letting children read classical Chinese literature from an early age and bathe in its brilliant light can quickly increase their vocabulary and store up rich language knowledge, thereby passing on the essence of Chinese culture.

Editor's review

Children's Classical Ci is a carefully compiled primer for classical poetry, attentively selected by author Caisangzi. Rather than a simple listing of ci works, the book starts from the premise of "for children" to build a bridge to classical aesthetics. The selections balance classic status and readability, avoiding overly difficult and obscure works and favoring pieces with vivid imagery, sincere emotion and a catchy rhythm, such as Li Yu's "Yu Meiren" and Su Shi's "Shui Diao Ge Tou." The editor's commentary is concise and poetic, explaining not only words but also guiding children to feel the mood and flow of emotion in the ci, turning historical and cultural background into vividly told stories. The binding and illustrations are also thoughtfully designed, creating an elegant classical reading atmosphere. For modern children, the book's value lies in offering a "slow down" aesthetic experience, cultivating language sensitivity and a sense of closeness to traditional culture through rhythm and imagery. It is not an academic work but a patient guide, intended to plant a seed called "poetry."

Who it's for

A good fit for

Primary and middle school students aged 8 to 14 who are building Chinese language literacy and an aesthetic foundation
Parents who want to introduce their children to classical literature but don't know where to start
Young readers with a preliminary interest in classical poetry who want a friendly introduction
Families looking for literary and appreciative reading material for parent-child reading

Not a good fit for

Advanced readers seeking in-depth academic analysis or professional ci studies
Those seeking utilitarian study aids with large numbers of exercises and exam-point analyses

Reading tips

Combine recitation with explanation: first appreciate the beauty of the rhythm, then understand the realm of the poem's meaning
Use the illustrations in the book to guide children in depicting the scenes in the ci, making abstract imagery concrete
Don't chase progress; choose ci works that match the mood and season and savor them slowly to better appreciate their flavor

About the publisher

Northern Literature and Art Publishing House (Beifang Wenyi Chubanshe) China · Founded in 1961

Northern Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on contemporary and modern literary and artistic works, literary theory, and translations of foreign literature, while also covering categories such as history, popular science, Eastern philosophy, and world classics. Its collection includes 737 titles, with representative publications ranging from traditional Chinese classics such as Records of the Grand Historian, The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, and The Analects to foreign literary works including the complete classic plays of Shakespeare, Balzac's Old Goriot and Eugénie Grandet (in celebrated translations by Fu Lei), and The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Its author resources span classical figures such as Sima Qian, Song Yingxing, and Confucius, foreign writers such as Shakespeare and Balzac, and translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Fu Lei. The press combines the transmission of classics with an orientation toward general reading, developing a distinctive profile in both the editing of traditional texts and the translation of foreign literature. Public information is limited, so the above emphasizes the publishing profile reflected in the books held in the collection.

版权信息
唐·白居易
唐·张志和
唐·温庭筠
南唐·李煜
宋·范仲淹
宋·张先
宋·晏殊
宋·宋祁
宋·欧阳修
宋·柳永
宋·王安石
宋·晏几道
宋·苏轼
宋·黄庭坚
宋·秦观
宋·陈克
宋·李之仪
宋·周邦彦
宋·赵令畤
宋·舒亶
宋·贺铸
宋·张元幹
宋·叶梦得
宋·汪藻
宋·廖世美
宋·鲁逸仲
宋·张孝祥
宋·韩元吉
宋·袁去华
宋·韩疁
宋·李邴
宋·陈与义
宋·蔡伸
宋·周紫芝
宋·李甲
宋·李重元
宋·田为
宋·曹组
宋·陈亮
宋·范成大
宋·姜夔
宋·章良能
宋·张镃
宋·史达祖
宋·刘克庄
宋·卢祖皋
宋·吴文英
宋·刘辰翁
宋·周密
宋·蒋捷
宋·张炎
宋·李清照
宋·岳飞
宋·陆游
宋·辛弃疾
宋·王沂孙
明·杨慎
清·纳兰性德

FAQ

What eras and authors do the selected ci works cover?

The book mainly selects classic ci works from the Tang and Song dynasties, focusing on poets of the graceful and delicate style, such as Li Yu, Li Qingzhao, Su Shi and Xin Qiji, balancing representativeness with children's receptiveness.

Is the commentary on each ci detailed? Is it suitable for children with no foundation at all?

The commentary focuses on depicting the mood of the lines and inspiring emotion rather than word-by-word classical Chinese translation, and its language is friendly and easy to understand. For children with zero foundation, parents are advised to assist by telling background stories and other means to better help them enter the world of ci.

What are the main differences between this book and other children's classical poetry readers on the market?

Its main features are its focus on the ci genre and the editor Caisangzi's personal, aesthetically oriented interpretive perspective. It emphasizes feeling and resonance rather than mere knowledge transmission, and the overall presentation is more artistic.

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About the author

采桑子 Author

Public information about Cai Sangzi is limited; neither nationality, birth and death dates, nor educational background are clearly documented. Judging from the fifteen works held in the collection, the author's writing spans several fields: biographical translation and introduction, as with The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin; anthologies of prose and classical poetry, such as A Reader of Classic Essays and Classical Ci for Children; and the popularization of Eastern philosophy and traditional culture, represented by Common Knowledge of Chinese Classics You Should Know. Inspirational and personal-growth titles make up a large share of the output, including Don't Just Look Like You're Working Hard, Those Who Can Control Their Emotions Can Control Their Lives, Don't Choose Comfort When You Should Be Striving, and Your Aura Will Ultimately Make You a Unique Self. These titles address young readers' anxieties about effort, emotional management and self-improvement in plain, everyday language with a practical, encouraging tone. Overall, Cai Sangzi comes across as a writer of popular books for general readers, skilled at turning traditional culture, classic texts and motivational themes into accessible primers, with an emphasis on readability and practical inspiration rather than scholarly research.