Shengsheng Pavilion

孟郊The Commercial Press · ChinaJun 2024

Rating 4.0

Word count: 7.2K words
Chapters: 50

Summary

Shengsheng Pavilion is a poem composed by Meng Jiao of the Tang Dynasty.

Editor's review

Meng Jiao's poetry is known for its painstaking craftsmanship and the sensibility of a poor scholar; Shengsheng Pavilion, though a single short work, exemplifies his manner of polishing words and sentences and entrusting meaning to scenery. This edition, reproduced or collated from the original Republic-era Commercial Press printing, preserves the typographic appearance of the old edition and offers some reference value for studying the textual transmission of Meng Jiao's poetry and the forms of modern publishing. The descriptions of pavilion scenery let readers sense how a mid-Tang poet lodged reflections on life in an ordinary space. It suits supplementary reading for thematic study of classical poetry and casual browsing by readers interested in Republic-era editions. The single work is limited in scale, however; those seeking a systematic understanding of Meng Jiao's life and complete oeuvre should read it alongside other anthologies or a complete collection. Readers may slow their pace and note the progressive layering of imagery and the deliberate crafting of diction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a basic interest in Tang poetry who want to read a single work by Meng Jiao closely
Edition enthusiasts interested in Republic-era Commercial Press editions and modern typeset forms
Classical literature students using it as small-scale supplementary material for Meng Jiao studies
Slow readers who enjoy short classical poems and are willing to ponder diction line by line

Not a good fit for

Beginners hoping for a systematic understanding of Meng Jiao's life and complete works
General readers who prefer long narrative or modern fiction reading experiences
Newcomers to classical poetry who need detailed annotations and vernacular translations

Reading tips

Read the whole poem once to grasp the overall situation, then mark scenic and emotional cues line by line.
Read it against other poems by Meng Jiao to see how his painstaking style appears in this piece.
Note the layout and diction of the original Republic-era edition and compare it with standard collated editions.
After reading, try summarizing the poem's meaning in your own words to test your understanding of what it conveys.

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

"Republic-era Commercial Press Original Editions" refers to original books printed by The Commercial Press during the Republican period, not a separate publishing house. Judging from the 300 titles held in the collection, its publishing focus centers on classical poetry and lyrics, literary appreciation, classic works, military texts, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy. Representative titles include Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua, Zhong Rong's Shipin, the lyric collections of Xin Qiji and Liu Yong, Sun Wu's The Art of War, and Lü Buwei's Xianshi Lan. Its author resources are mainly classical writers, together with modern scholars such as Li Jingbang and Guo Huaruo, whose collations and annotations are also represented, giving the list a character centered on original texts while attending to annotation and appreciation. Public information on the precise Republican-era catalog and printings is limited; this overview is based only on the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
【西斋养病夜怀多感因呈上从叔子云】孟郊
卷三百七十五
【秋怀】孟郊
【靖安寄居】孟郊
【雪】孟郊
【春愁】孟郊
【懊恼】孟郊
【游城南韩氏庄】孟郊
【与二三友秋宵会话清上人院】孟郊
【招文士饮】孟郊
【陪侍御叔游城南山墅】孟郊
【登华岩寺楼望终南山赠林校书兄弟】孟郊
【游终南山】孟郊
【游终南龙池寺】孟郊
【南阳公请东樱桃亭子春宴】孟郊
【游华山云台观】孟郊
【喜与长文上人宿李秀才小山池亭】孟郊
【邀花伴（自注，时在朔方）】孟郊
【石淙（一作五淙十首）】孟郊
【游韦七洞庭别业】孟郊
【越中山水】孟郊
【春集越州皇甫秀才山亭】孟郊
【和皇甫判官游琅琊溪】孟郊
卷三百七十六
【汝州南潭陪陆中丞公宴】孟郊
【汝州陆中丞席喜张从事至同赋十韵】孟郊
【夜集汝州郡斋听陆僧辩弹琴】孟郊
【同年春燕】孟郊
【罗氏花下奉招陈侍御】孟郊
【游石龙涡（四壁千仞，散泉如雨）】孟郊
【浮石亭】孟郊
【看花】孟郊
【济源春】孟郊
【济源寒食】孟郊
【游枋口】孟郊
【与王二十一员外涯游枋口柳溪】孟郊
【与王二十一员外涯游昭成寺】孟郊
【嵩少】孟郊
【旅次洛城东水亭】孟郊
【洛桥晚望】孟郊
【北郭贫居】孟郊
【题陆鸿渐上饶新开山舍】孟郊
【题韦承总吴王故城下幽居（韦生，相门子孙）】孟郊
【苏州昆山惠聚寺僧房】孟郊
【题从叔述灵岩山壁】孟郊
【题林校书花严寺书窗】孟郊
【蓝溪元居士草堂】孟郊
【新卜清罗幽居奉献陆大夫】孟郊
【题韦少保静恭宅藏书洞】孟郊

FAQ

Does this book contain only the single poem Shengsheng Pavilion?

According to available information, the book centers on Meng Jiao's poem Shengsheng Pavilion, based on the original Republic-era Commercial Press printing. The single work is short, making it better suited to close thematic reading or edition comparison than to serving as a comprehensive anthology of Meng Jiao's poetry.

Can readers with no background in classical poetry understand it?

The diction and imagery pose some difficulty; without annotations, first-time readers may struggle. It is advisable to read alongside a reliable annotated edition of Meng Jiao's poetry or appreciation materials, resolving vocabulary obstacles first and then appreciating the poem's meaning and feeling.

What does the original Republic-era edition mean for ordinary readers?

It preserves the typesetting appearance and diction habits of a modern publishing house, offering insight into how ancient texts circulated in the Republic era. For ordinary readers, it can serve as a reference for comparison with today's collated editions and a way to sense edition differences.

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About the author

孟郊 Author

Meng Jiao was a Tang dynasty poet. Publicly available information about his life, including dates of birth and death and place of origin, is limited, and the library holds eight of his works. Pieces such as "Seeing Han Yu Off to Join the Army" and "Sent to Zhang Ji" show that he had dealings with literati of his time, and his poems often center on farewells, messages to friends, and reflections on daily life. Works such as "Shengsheng Pavilion," "Presented to the Host amid the Snow at Yimen," and "Harmonizing with Vice Minister Qian's Sweet Dew" deal with pavilions, snow scenes, and poetic exchanges, revealing attention to specific situations and objects. His works are classified under ancient poetry, Eastern philosophy, and culture. His language is plain and concise, his feelings deep, and he excels at conveying a sense of personal circumstance and reflection on life through unadorned narration. Meng Jiao's poetic style has a distinct character in the history of classical Chinese poetry and has exerted some influence on later writers, but the library's materials are limited, and his detailed biography and the dating of his works require further investigation.