Standard Rhymes for Ci Lyrics

戈载Jun 2024

4.2

Word count: 9.1K words
Chapters: 20

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought are striking in character: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are vast and profound. This series, "Essence of the 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 cultivate character and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Ci Lin Zheng Yun is a specialized rhyme book for ci poetry compiled by Ge Zai in the Qing Dynasty. It divides rhyme categories for ci composition and is one of the most influential traditional reference works in ci studies. This book belongs to the "Classic Chinese Studies Essence Culture Original Texts" series, preserving the original appearance of the source text and focusing on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. Its value lies in providing readers with a basic reference for looking up ci rhymes and identifying tone patterns and rhyme category attribution, suitable for use alongside reading or attempting ci composition. Its highlight is a clear structure and explicit classification, making it easy to consult by rhyme category and offering insight into the compilation approach of traditional rhyme books. In terms of reading scenarios, it can be kept on the desk as a reference book for consultation at any time, or read alongside specific ci works to appreciate the relationship between rhyme choice and emotional expression in the ancients' practice. It should be noted that this book is a rhyme book by nature, not a systematic theoretical work on ci studies; readers seeking appreciation of famous works or an understanding of ci history should consult relevant supplementary readings.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Classical poetry enthusiasts currently learning ci composition who need to consult ci rhymes and tone category attribution
Readers who wish to understand rhyme patterns when reading Song ci and are willing to read closely against rhyme categories
Students of literature and history researching traditional ci philology and interested in the compilation style of Qing dynasty rhyme books
Readers who wish to preserve and browse the original appearance of Chinese studies texts and prefer reference-book style reading

Not a good fit for

General readers who only want to read appreciation of ci works and have no interest in looking up rhyme categories
Beginners expecting systematic exposition of ci theory or an outline of ci history
Readers unfamiliar with the basic concepts of Pingshui rhymes and ci rhymes who need modern phonetic notation

Reading tips

Begin with the general principles and category headings to understand the rhyme classification system, then consult as needed; it is not suitable for reading straight through.
Take a familiar Song ci poem, look up the rhyme category of each rhyme word used, and appreciate the relationship between rhyme choice and emotion.
Keep a notebook recording commonly used rhyme categories and easily confused characters to gradually build your own rhyme index for ci composition.
When encountering obscure rhyme characters, confirm pronunciation and meaning with a dictionary rather than judging category attribution by character form alone.

版权信息
第一部
第二部
第三部
第四部
第五部
第六部
第七部
第八部
第九部
第十部
第十一部
第十二部
第十三部
第十四部
第十五部
第十六部
第十七部
第十八部
第十九部

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no background to read straight through?

Not really. A rhyme book is primarily for consultation, arranged by rhyme category, and lacks item-by-item explanation. Readers with no background should first understand basic concepts such as tone patterns and rhyme categories, then use it as a reference book, consulting it alongside specific ci works for better results.

What is the difference between Ci Lin Zheng Yun and poetic rhymes?

Ci Lin Zheng Yun is a rhyme book compiled specifically for ci composition, merging and dividing rhyme categories according to the needs of ci verse, which differs from the poetic rhyme system commonly used for writing poetry in the strictness of division. Readers should pay attention to the compilation principles it follows and not directly apply poetic rhyme classifications.

Can this book replace theoretical works on ci studies?

No. This book is a rhyme reference work, mainly addressing the problem of looking up rhymes, and does not systematically discuss ci prosody, history, or composition methods. For a deeper understanding of the ci form, one should read it alongside works on ci theory or ci anthologies.

How can I improve lookup efficiency while reading?

First familiarize yourself with the order of category headings and the general principles, and grasp the logic of rhyme category arrangement; then make an index of frequently consulted rhyme categories and representative characters; when consulting, confirm the meaning and pronunciation of rhyme words in context to reduce misjudgments caused by polyphonic and polysemous characters.

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About the author

戈载 Author

Ge Zai is a writer on ci poetry whose biographical details are quite limited; publicly available sources record no clear information about his native place, dates of birth and death, or official career. His main confirmed contribution lies in the study of ci rhyme. His representative work, Cilin Zhengyun, is a rhyme book compiled specifically for writing ci. It systematically groups characters by rhyme category and provides a workable basis for choosing rhymes when composing ci to set tunes, and it has often been cited in ci writing and scholarship since the Qing dynasty. In terms of subject and approach, the book is practical and clearly organized, focusing on the division of rhyme categories and the classification of pronunciations rather than general discussion of ci artistry, which shows its solid nature as a reference work. Only one work by him is held in the collection, and the common classification of literary appreciation fits the purpose of this rhyme book. Because relevant historical sources are scarce, details of his life await further investigation, and readers may come to know his scholarly interests and influence mainly through Cilin Zhengyun.