Returning-Life Fragrance

韵清女史吕逸Jul 2024

3.3

Word count: 40K words
Chapters: 15

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and Hundred Schools thought, feng shui and metaphysical learning, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the original appearance of the books, with a focus on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate their temperament and quietly immerse themselves in the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Fansheng Xiang (Returning Life Fragrance) is attributed to Lü Yi, a female literatus of the Yunqing era, and belongs to the category of traditional women's poetry and prose. It is now published in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series, with emphasis on preserving the old appearance of the original book and transmitting traditional thought and culture. Such women's collected works are often modest in length but fine and dense in feeling, mostly consisting of pieces on scenery and objects and of expressions of personal feeling; they allow observation of the writing perspective and linguistic taste of women authors in earlier times. The language preserves a particular period flavor and is of reference value for studying women's literature, the tradition of genteel women's writing, and the thematic habits of traditional poetry and prose. Readers need not measure it against modern fiction; it should be treated as a collection of poetry and prose, savoring the emotion and imagery in the wording and noting the thematic characteristics brought by the author's identity. This edition emphasizes documentary preservation and is suitable for readers interested in studying traditional poetry and prose to read slowly and selectively, rather than for plot-driven leisure reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of ancient women's writing and genteel women's literature
General readers who love traditional poetry and prose and are willing to read slowly and savor
People involved in compiling and preserving women's collected works
Collectors interested in the original-text Chinese studies series and traditional culture books

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer tightly plotted, highly narrative works
Beginners who need modern vernacular translation and annotation to understand poetry and prose
Readers expecting a systematic history of women's literature

Reading tips

Read the prefaces and postscripts and the table of contents first to learn the author's identity and the classification of pieces before entering the main text.
Read three to five pieces at a time and note imagery and allusions as you go; avoid trying to do too much.
Read alongside other women's collected works to compare similarities and differences in themes and linguistic habits.
Mark unfamiliar allusions first and look them up together afterward, so as to maintain reading rhythm.

版权信息
第一回矮屋摇篮一宵风雪画屏禅榻三梦因缘
第二回治园亭会计妒贤邀围棋画师惊艳
第三回送盆花娇鸟唤哥儿进忠告少年规叔父
第四回凉雨关怀二童口角深宵治疾一士惊心
第五回事难言馥馥回眸疾可讳丹初设策
第六回水阁笛声人静后镜屏倩影不言中
第七回娱爱女禽言供雅谑祝夫人凤腊示衰征
第八回环佩遥闻巾遗曲榭笛歌迭奏剧演阳关
第九回咏折柳情见乎词赏梅花醉中得梦
第十回喜出望外寿寿回乡变生不测静娴哭母
第十一回采菊谈心翠姐解意围炉促膝杨公拒婚
第十二回凤去台空泪痕遮望眼图穷匕见心事托和盘
第十三回两番书到孝子同情三岛萍逢闺娃侍疾
第十四回劫历沧桑珠还无恙诚开金石香可返魂

FAQ

Is this book a novel or poetry and prose?

According to the materials, the book is attributed to Lü Yi, a female literatus of the Yunqing era, belongs to traditional women's writings, and is included in the original-text Chinese studies series, with emphasis on preserving the original appearance. It should be treated as a traditional collection of poetry and prose, not read with expectations of a novel's plot. For the specific genres of the pieces, refer to the actual table of contents.

Why is it said to be suitable for slow reading?

The length and arrangement of such collections generally follow the original book; the language is condensed and often allusive, so quick browsing easily misses layers of feeling in the wording. Reading slowly in small sessions, with reference to allusions and background, better allows appreciation of the author's linguistic habits and writing perspective.

What preparation is needed before reading?

It is advisable first to learn basic knowledge of the genres of traditional poetry and prose and common allusions, and to keep a reference book at hand. At the same time, read the preface or postscript first to understand the author's identity and the circumstances of the book's composition, then choose pieces of interest from the table of contents—more relaxed than forcing one's way from the beginning.

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About the author

韵清女史吕逸 Author

Yunqing Nüshi Lü Yi is the author credited with Return of Fragrance (Fansheng Xiang) and its related work. Public information about this figure is limited: the real name, dates of birth and death, native place and life story are not clearly recorded, and the byname "Yunqing Nüshi" (Lady Yunqing) carries the flavor of a traditional literary woman's style name. Judging from the two works held in the collection, the writing centres on the theme of gifted scholars and beautiful women. Return of Fragrance revolves around a plot of returning to life for love, a common romantic narrative type in classical Chinese literature, and touches on literary appreciation and classical reading. Through the idea of reunion after revival, the works express a longing for deep affection and happy union, and their language and plot carry the flavour of Ming and Qing caizi-jiaren fiction. Because verifiable material is scarce, the author's place in literary history remains hard to determine; readers may best appreciate the works within the tradition of classical romantic narrative.