Compendium of Ci Poetry
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Summary
Editor's review
The compilation background is closely tied to Zhu Yizun's poetics. As a leading figure of the Zhexi Ci School, Zhu emphasized "orthodoxy" and "purity" in ci. In selecting works, he valued both artistic quality and historical significance, making Cizong not only a literary anthology but also a scholarly work reflecting the evolution of ci history. The book includes brief biographies of each poet, helping readers understand their lives and creative contexts—an innovative format at the time.
In terms of content, Cizong spans from Tang dynasty Dunhuang quzi ci to Yuan dynasty works, including many pieces rarely seen in other anthologies, and thus has high documentary value. For modern readers, the book offers not only a window to appreciate classical ci but also helps understand how ci evolved from folk songs into a lyrical tool for literati, reaching its peak in the Song dynasty.
Reading Cizong requires some foundation in classical literature, but Zhu Yizun's discerning editorial eye and concise annotations allow even beginners to derive aesthetic pleasure. Notably, the book reflects the editor's aesthetic preferences: the Zhexi Ci School admired the "clear and empty" style of Jiang Kui and Zhang Yan, so their works are more extensively represented, offering readers insight into mainstream Qing dynasty ci poetics.
Overall, Cizong is a classic anthology that stands the test of time. Its value lies not only in preserving a wealth of precious ci works but also in the poetic concepts and historical threads it embodies. For readers seeking a systematic understanding of Chinese ci poetry, this book is an invaluable guide.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Literature enthusiasts with a strong interest in classical Chinese poetry
- Researchers or students studying Tang and Song ci
- Cultural scholars seeking a systematic understanding of ci history
- Teachers of classical literature
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light entertainment
- Those completely unfamiliar with classical Chinese and unwilling to learn
Reading tips
- Read the preface first to understand Zhu Yizun's editorial principles and ci poetics
- Read in chronological order to appreciate the stylistic evolution of ci
- Use the poet biographies to understand works in the context of their authors' lives
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
- 前言
- 序
- 词综后序
- 词综发凡
- 词综卷一唐词
- 词综卷二五代十国词
- 词综卷三五代十国词
- 词综卷四宋词
- 词综卷五宋词
- 词综卷六宋词
- 词综卷七宋词
- 词综卷八宋词
- 词综卷九宋词
- 词综卷十宋词
- 词综卷十一宋词
- 词综卷十二宋词
- 词综卷十三宋词
- 词综卷十四宋词
- 词综卷十五宋词
- 词综卷十六宋词
- 词综卷十七宋词
- 词综卷十八宋词
- 词综卷十九宋词
- 词综卷二十宋词
- 词综卷二十一宋词
- 词综卷二十二宋词
- 词综卷二十三宋词
- 词综卷二十四宋词
- 词综卷二十五宋词
- 词综卷二十六金词
- 词综卷二十七元词
- 词综卷二十八元词
- 词综卷二十九元词
- 词综卷三十元词
- 词综卷三十一补人宋词
- 词综卷三十二补人宋词
- 词综卷三十三补人金元词
- 词综卷三十四补词宋词
- 词综卷三十五补词宋词
- 词综卷三十六补词宋金元词
FAQ
What is the chronological range of the ci poems in this book?
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About the author
Zhu Yizun (1629–1709), courtesy name Xichang and art name Zhucha, was a native of Xiushui (present-day Jiaxing), Zhejiang. A literary figure, scholar and bibliophile of the early Qing dynasty, he passed the boxue hongci examination in 1678, the eighteenth year of the Kangxi reign, was appointed to the Hanlin Academy as a compiler, and took part in compiling the History of the Ming. His poetry was ranked alongside that of Wang Shizhen, while in ci he founded the Zhexi school and exerted a profound influence on early Qing ci poetry. He compiled Ci Zong to set out his views on the genre, and his Jingzhi Ju Qin Qu reflects his own ci style. His scholarly works include Ri Xia Jiu Wen and Kao of the Disciples of Confucius, and his Baishu Ting Ji also survives. Five of his works are held here, covering ci anthologies, food culture and Eastern philosophy.
Wang Sen was a compiler and editor of ci poetry whose biographical details are extremely limited. Publicly available sources contain no reliable record of his native place, dates of birth and death, or official career. His main confirmed contribution is closely associated with Ci Zong (Comprehensive Anthology of Ci). Ci Zong is a representative anthology of ci from the Qing dynasty, compiled by Zhu Yizun, with Wang Sen participating in its supplementation and collation. He played a notable role in collecting ci works from the Tang, Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties and in preserving scattered or lost texts. The anthology has a broad scope, attends to various styles, and reflects the Qing tendency to elevate the status of ci while emphasizing documentary compilation. It has had a lasting influence on later anthologies and on the study of ci. Because materials on Wang Sen's personal life are scarce, scholarly understanding of him centers chiefly on his editorial participation in the completion of Ci Zong, and his name is known to readers through this classic anthology.
