Miscellaneous Talks on the Remainder of Song Lyrics
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive features: religious theology, classical texts of traditional Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and extensive. This series, "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts," preserves the original appearance of the 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 subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
Ci Yu Cong Hua is an important work on drama by Yang Enshou of the Qing dynasty. It uses "ci yu" to refer to drama and records a large number of note-style comments on drama creation, prosody, performance, and writers and their works. This new edition is included in the series "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts," preserves the original appearance of the book, and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. Its value lies in providing readers with firsthand materials on how people of earlier times discussed drama, allowing glimpses of Qing-dynasty views on drama studies and critical tastes while also making it easy to compare with contemporary drama research. Its highlight is the free style of note-form writing: the materials are scattered but information-dense, suitable for reading and noting at leisure and for repeated consultation. In terms of reading scenarios, it is suitable as supplementary reading for the study of classical drama and literary criticism, and also for readers interested in traditional artistic criticism to keep on the desk for slow reading. Note that the discussions in the book mostly address specific writers and works and questions of dramatic prosody; without some basic knowledge of drama, first-time readers may find it jumpy.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Researchers of classical drama and literary criticism who need to consult primary materials on Qing-dynasty drama theory
- Students of Chinese literature using it as extended reading for courses on ancient literature and drama
- Enthusiasts interested in traditional drama criticism who are willing to read notes slowly
- Readers of Chinese classics who wish to understand how people of earlier times criticized drama
Not a good fit for
- Complete beginners with no knowledge of drama, for whom the reading threshold is relatively high
- Readers expecting a systematic textbook history of drama, since this book is not a general history
- Ordinary readers who only want light stories or poetry anthologies
Reading tips
- First read the preface or editorial notes to understand Yang Enshou's basic stance and format in discussing drama
- Excerpt comments on writers and works of interest and read them alongside the original plays for comparison
- Mark prosodic terms when encountered, consult reference works, and then reread
- Read a few entries at a time; there is no need to finish in one go, as the emphasis is on accumulation and comparison
Contents
- 版权信息
- 词余丛话提要
- 词余丛话序
- 词余丛话卷一
- 词余丛话卷二
- 词余丛话卷三
FAQ
What does "ci yu" refer to?
In traditional bibliography and literary criticism, "ci yu" is often used to refer to drama, meaning the residue or offshoot of ci. Yang Enshou's use of "ci yu" in the title indicates that the book mainly discusses drama creation and criticism rather than ordinary ci works.
Is this book suitable for beginners to read directly?
It is not very suitable for readers with no foundation to read straight through. The book consists mostly of notes on specific writers and works and on prosodic questions, and readers lacking basic knowledge of drama will find it jumpy. It is advisable first to acquire some grounding in drama history and major works, then use it as supplementary material.
What features of the original book does the new edition preserve?
According to the publishing note, this series focuses on preserving the original appearance of the books and aims to preserve and transmit traditional Chinese thought and culture. Readers may therefore use it as an edition close to the original rather than a substantially rewritten or popularized introduction.
How can readers use the scattered materials in the book?
Each comment can be treated as an independent clue. When an entry involves a specific play, first note the title and author, then find the original work or relevant chapters in drama history for comparison. In this way scattered notes can gradually be linked into a personal knowledge network.
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About the author
杨恩寿
Author
Yang Enshou was a Qing-dynasty writer on drama, though public information about him is limited and neither his dates nor his native place are clearly recorded. Two works bearing his name survive, Ciyu Conghua and its sequel Xu Ciyu Conghua, both belonging to the genre of drama criticism. "Ciyu," literally "the remainder of ci," is an alternative term for qu (aria), and the two books follow the traditional form of quhua, collecting and evaluating dramatists, plays, and anecdotes of the theatrical world while also touching on prosody, diction, and the sources of plots. They are important materials for the study of Qing drama criticism. Their emphasis falls on appreciation and ranking, with discussion that is concrete and close to actual practice, and they are often cited in the collation and study of classical drama texts. Because the author's life is difficult to verify, later understanding of him and his work rests mainly on these two books themselves.
