Notes on Ci Lyrics
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive features, and the contents of religious theology, traditional Chinese medicine classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and local gazetteers are profound and extensive. This series, "Essence of Classic National Studies: Original Texts of Culture," preserves the appearance of the original 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 imperceptibly come to appreciate the classics of national studies.
Editor's review
Ci Bie was written by Zhu Xiaozang and is included in the series "Essence of Classic National Studies: Original Texts of Culture," whose editorial principle is to preserve the appearance of the original books and transmit traditional Chinese thought and culture. Zhu Xiaozang was a leading modern master of ci studies, and his editorial work and creative writing in ci studies had an influence on the traditional ci world; this book therefore has a distinct character as a document of ci scholarship. The character bie in the title Ci Bie means to distinguish or mark, suggesting that readers should pay attention to distinctions and selections within the ci form. The value of this book lies not in popular explanation but in presenting the original appearance of traditional ci scholarship, allowing readers to experience the literary and intellectual qualities of the ci form in the primary texts. Its highlights are its concise length and a format close to the original book, making it suitable for extended reading by readers with a basic understanding of ci studies. In terms of reading situation, the book is best read slowly in comparison with ci anthologies and ci talks, a few pieces or passages at a time, paying attention to rhyme, syntax and emotional expression. It should be noted that this series focuses on preservation and transmission and does not provide modern scholarly annotation; readers should read with a verifying awareness in order to appreciate the original appearance and the context of ci scholarship.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a basic understanding of traditional ci studies who wish to encounter the original texts
- Enthusiasts who like Zhu Xiaozang's work in ci studies and want to extend their reading of his writings
- People who need traditional ci studies materials for poetry writing or teaching
- Readers of traditional culture willing to read slowly and carefully and accustomed to taking reading notes
Not a good fit for
- Complete beginners with no foundation in ci studies who need line-by-line vernacular explanation
- Readers who prefer novels and stories and seek plot-driven entertainment
- Researchers who need modern scholarly collation and detailed annotation
Reading tips
- First learn about Zhu Xiaozang's background in ci studies and the possible meaning of the title Ci Bie, then enter the main text.
- Read a small selection of ci works or passages each time, mark rhyme and syntax, and verify with ci rhyme reference books.
- Read in comparison with other original texts in the same national studies series or with common ci anthologies, noting differences in selection and commentary.
- After finishing a piece, summarize its main point in your own words to check whether you have truly understood the original text.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序
- 词莂
- 毛奇龄
- 陈维崧
- 朱彝尊
- 曹贞吉
- 顾贞观
- 成德
- 厉鹗
- 张惠言
- 周之琦
- 项廷纪
- 蒋春霖
- 王鹏运
- 郑文焯
- 朱祖谋
- 况周颐
FAQ
Who was Zhu Xiaozang, and do I need to know about him before reading this book?
Zhu Xiaozang was a leading modern master of ci studies with an important influence on the traditional ci world. Understanding the background of his editorial work and creative writing in ci studies helps in grasping the book's perspective on selection and its documentary value. But since the book focuses on preserving the original appearance, readers may also read the main text first and then return to fill in the author's background; there is no need to be deterred by insufficient knowledge of the author.
How should the character bie in the title Ci Bie be understood?
The materials do not provide an exact explanation of the title, so it should not be forcefully settled. The character bie means to distinguish or mark, and may suggest distinctions and selections within the ci form. Readers should understand it in light of the main text, prefaces and postscripts, and Zhu Xiaozang's views on ci studies, taking the original book's wording as the standard and avoiding literal misinterpretation.
Is this book suitable for learning to write ci?
This book preserves the original appearance and can serve as a reference for experiencing traditional ci texts, but it is not a systematic textbook on writing ci. If the goal is to learn to write ci, it is advisable to use separate ci pattern books, ci rhyme references and introductory tutorials, and to treat this book as a primary source for comparative reading rather than the sole basis.
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About the author
Zhu Xiaozang (Zhu Zumou)
Author · Chinese · 1857–1931
Zhu Xiaozang (1857–1931), originally named Zumou, courtesy name Guwei, styled Jiangcun, was a native of Gui'an in Zhejiang (present-day Huzhou). He passed the imperial examination as a jinshi in the ninth year of the Guangxu reign and rose to serve as Vice Minister of Rites and as education commissioner of Guangdong. One of the four great ci poets of the late Qing, he devoted himself to ci scholarship, especially the editing and anthologizing of ci collections. His anthology Three Hundred Song Ci Poems circulated widely and became an important reader for later generations; he also compiled and printed the Jiangcun Series, gathering ci collections from successive dynasties and contributing to the documentary study of ci. His own ci works, collected in Jiangcun Yuye, are marked by a deep, restrained style and careful attention to tonal patterns, and are regarded as important works of modern ci poetry. He also wrote the Ci Bie. Praised for both his creative writing and his editorial work, Zhu Xiaozang is honored as a master of modern ci.
