The Bianjing Guest
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Summary
Jing Buhang reconstructs history through nonfiction, focusing on the moments of hardship faced by seven great literati of the Northern Song and interpreting the tremendous power conveyed through their poetry.
Cover illustration by guofeng artist Fu Shu, beautifully presenting the wisdom and character of Northern Song literati.
Li Yu, Liu Yong, Fan Zhongyan... seven figures, seven stories of climbing upward in adversity, seven chronicles of cultivating the self, governing the family, and bringing peace to the realm—more readable than fiction!
*The汴京 Guest* is a collection of historical portraits by young writer Jing Buhang, telling the stories of seven figures: Li Yu, last ruler of the Southern Tang; Liu Yong, reformer of Song ci poetry; Fan Zhongyan, a model minister; Ouyang Xiu, leader of the scholar class; Wang Anshi, the reformist chancellor; Su Shi, master of the heroic ci; and Yan Jidao, virtuoso of the short lyric. The book traces the literary development and evolution of Northern Song poetry, analyzes their reflections on the relationship between the state and the individual, and focuses especially on each great writer's lowest moments and their state of mind under crushing pressure, bringing the spiritual light of these outstanding ancients into the present.
In this book, amid the bustle of the capital, you will see the scholarly character and life dilemmas that have endured for a thousand years.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the social history of the Song dynasty
- Novel lovers who prefer slow pacing and attention to atmosphere and detail
- Readers who want to understand historical change through the perspectives of ordinary people
- Readers who enjoy savoring traditional culture and urban life in their reading
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast pacing, strong plots, and intense conflict
- Readers hoping for systematic historical knowledge or a grand narrative
Reading tips
- Read in quiet hours to better immerse yourself in Bianjing's urban atmosphere
- Read alongside Song dynasty notebooks such as Dongjing Menghua Lu for deeper understanding
- Don't rush the plot; savor the author's portrayal of everyday scenes and characters' inner lives
About the publisher
Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House is a publisher known for its literary titles, with a catalogue spanning foreign literature, world classics, classical Chinese literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, and mystery and detective fiction. Judging from the more than 1,100 books in the database, the press publishes foreign classics such as Crime and Punishment, Snow Country, The Complete Sherlock Holmes and Letter from an Unknown Woman, as well as Chinese classical and modern literary works including Lu Xun's Wandering and A Madman's Diary and Wu Jingzi's The Scholars. In terms of translators and authors, translations by Cao Guowei and Tan Jinghua appear in its foreign literature titles, and the authors involved include Dostoevsky, Kawabata Yasunari, Conan Doyle and Zweig. Its publishing character lies in introducing Chinese and foreign literary classics side by side, balancing popular and serious works and attending to both readability and literary value. Public information is limited; the above is a brief overview based solely on the books in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 自序 年少的子弹，时隔多年正中眉心
- 李煜 （937-978） 春天不再来
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 柳永 （约987-约1053） 人生不过大闹一场
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 范仲淹 （989-1052） 在江湖与庙堂之间
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 欧阳修 （1007-1072） 何以慰风尘
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 王安石 （1021-1086） 孤臣
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 苏轼 （1037-1101） 也曾狼狈而行
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 晏几道 （1038-1110） 做不了赢家，就做个玩家
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
FAQ
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About the author
Jing Buhang is an author about whom limited public information is available. Three works can currently be confirmed, all falling within the category of prose and miscellaneous writings. Representative works include the two-volume set Jing Buhang's Twin New Works: The Guest of Lin'an + The Guest of Bianjing, as well as the separately published The Guest of Lin'an and The Guest of Bianjing. Judging from the titles, both works take Song dynasty cities as their point of entry: Lin'an and Bianjing were the capitals of the Southern Song and Northern Song respectively, suggesting that the author attends to the human atmosphere and everyday experience of historic cities. The works unfold in a prose style that combines narrative with the feel of personal essays, forging connections between historical settings and individual reflection. Since details of the author's life, education, and nationality have not been made public, readers' understanding of the author comes mainly from the works themselves. The three existing works already begin to reveal a writing direction centered on ancient capitals, with plain language and attention to detail and feeling, suitable for readers interested in Song dynasty urban life and in prose essays.
