Remarks on Ci Poetry from Wenhua Tower

陆蓥Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJun 2024

3.4

Word count: 3.7K words
Chapters: 19

Summary

Though ci is a minor art, Fan Wenzheng and Ouyang Wenzhong once delighted in it; even the great Confucian Zhu Xi occasionally composed it. The ancients lingered over scenes and were stirred to expression by things: some suited shi, some suited ci. I received family instruction early but never mastered tonal rules, knowing only the rough path. Recently, in the long summer with nothing to do, I chanced to read the Huajian and Caotang collections, recalled old lore, and over time completed a volume—merely to guard against forgetting and pass the years. Lu Ying, sixth month of summer, Wushen year of Daoguang. A ci-talk literary work by Lu Ying of the Qing dynasty. "Ci-talk" narrates the origins, development, figures and allusions of ci as a literary form, adding the author's comments and views. Lu Ying's ci-talk was revised by Grand Master Feng during the Tongzhi reign and titled Wenhua Lou Cihua, appended after Wenhua Lou Shichao. After Chen Qubing, a member of the Southern Society, obtained it from Lu Ying's great-grandson Lu Yuanding, it was reprinted and circulated.

Editor's review

"Wen Hua Lou Ci Hua" is a work of cihua (remarks on ci poetry) by Lu Ying of the Qing dynasty. It narrates the origins, development, figures, and allusions of the ci form and incorporates the author's own comments and views. In the preface the author notes that he received family instruction early but never mastered tonal prosody, only gaining a rough understanding of the path; during a long summer with nothing to do he casually read the Huajian and Caotang editions, recalled old lore, and in time completed the volume—showing that the writing was composed as random reading notes meant to preserve what might otherwise be forgotten. The book was later revised and titled by a certain Feng Dafu during the Tongzhi reign and appended to "Wen Hua Lou Shi Chao"; a manuscript obtained by Chen Qubing, a member of the Southern Society, from Lu Ying's great-grandson was reprinted and circulated, so the textual history itself has documentary value. Its strength lies in presenting Qing views on the origins of the ci form and on authors and works in brief cihua entries; it suits readers interested in ci criticism, Qing cihua, and the reception history of the Huajian Ji and Caotang Shiyu. It is best read as a traditional cihua, focusing on the views in each entry rather than expecting a modern systematic history of ci.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Qing cihua and ci criticism
Readers studying the reception history of the Huajian Ji and Caotang Shiyu
Readers who enjoy traditional note-style literary criticism
Literature enthusiasts seeking Lu Ying's views on ci

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners with no basic knowledge of the ci form
Readers expecting a modern systematic textbook history of ci
Readers who want only the original ci poems rather than commentary

Reading tips

Read the preface first to understand the circumstances of composition, then go through the entries in order to grasp the author's basic stance on judging ci.
Keep relevant pieces from the Huajian Ji and Caotang Shiyu at hand for reference whenever a ci work is mentioned.
Take notes on important entries, distinguishing the author's original comments from information about later revision and printing.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

版权信息
序
自序
原始
命题
寄调
换头
小令
长调
南北曲
古今韵
苏辛周柳
唐宋元明
叠字
录要
诙嘲宜戒
传闻须慎
べ斐轩
草堂本

FAQ

How does "Wen Hua Lou Ci Hua" differ from modern histories of ci?

It is a traditional cihua, consisting mainly of entry-style informal comments that emphasize insight and judgment rather than the systematic framework of a modern ci history. Readers should focus on the author's specific views on ci origins, figures, and allusions rather than expect a complete general history.

What basic knowledge of ci should one have before reading this book?

It helps to first understand the basic structures of ci, common cipai (tune patterns), and the general nature of the Huajian Ji and Caotang Shiyu. With this background, the book's comments on origins and on authors and works will be easier to follow.

Are the Tongzhi revision and Chen Qubing's reprint mentioned in the book important?

They matter for understanding the textual history. Sources indicate that the book was revised and titled by Feng Dafu during the Tongzhi reign and later reprinted by the Southern Society member Chen Qubing from a manuscript obtained from Lu Ying's great-grandson. General readers need only note this briefly; researchers may wish to pay closer attention.

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About the author

陆蓥 Author

Lu Ying is an author whose biographical details are limited in publicly available sources, and whose name is chiefly associated with the work Wen Hua Lou Ci Hua. Two works are held in the collection under this name, both being different versions or entries of the same Wen Hua Lou Ci Hua, suggesting that his writings are relatively concentrated. Based on the available material, Lu Ying's writing centers on the study of ci poetry and falls within the category of literary appreciation. Wen Hua Lou Ci Hua comments on ci poets and their works in the form of ci hua, with attention to ranking and discrimination, and it serves as the main basis for understanding his critical perspective and tastes. Since his dates of birth and death and native place cannot be verified, present-day knowledge of him remains centered on this ci hua, whose value lies chiefly in preserving a specific critical text for the history of ci poetry criticism.