A Register of Poetry

陈绎曾Bashu Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

Rating 3.6
Word count
1.2K words
Chapters
32

Tags

Eastern Philosophy Tang PoeticsSubtle BeautyAesthetic PerceptionMood CreationLiterary CriticismPoetics TheoryTraditional AestheticsAncient Style

Summary

The 'Reserve' (hanxu) section is the eleventh mode of the Twenty-Four Poetic Modes and one of the most literary chapters in the book, long admired by readers.

Editor's review

This book focuses on the 'Reserve' mode from the Twenty-Four Poetic Modes and is a thematic reader within the classics of ancient poetics. Its distinctive feature is that it presents the theoretical text as an independent aesthetic object: the 'Reserve' section is itself highly literary, being both an expression of poetic ideas and a literary text that can be read aloud. What readers enter is not merely a theoretical concept but an aesthetic tradition of governing the complex with the simple and summing up the many with the few. For readers studying Chinese poetic categories, this thematic volume offers the convenience of concentrated study; for general readers, it is also a window onto how the ancients discussed poetry. When reading, note that such texts leave considerable room for interpretation and that different commentators may differ; one should remain open and not insist on a single meaning. Overall, it is suitable as a starting point for thematic reading in classical poetics rather than as a general introductory survey.

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Reading tips

  1. Read the original text several times first, mark difficult words and phrases, then consult the annotations.
  2. Collect explanations of the 'Reserve' section from different annotated editions, compare similarities and differences, and form your own understanding.
  3. Select classical poems with an obviously reserved style, such as quatrains and short lyrics, and corroborate them against the theoretical text.
  4. After reading, write short notes; they need not be long, but should record personal impressions and questions.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 序
  3. 古体
  4. 律体
  5. 绝句体
  6. 杂体
  7. 张衡
  8. 唐山夫人
  9. 蔡琰
  10. 汉郊祀歌
  11. 汉乐府
  12. 古诗十九首情真，景真，事真，意真。澄至清，发至情。
  13. 陈思王
  14. 王粲刘桢
  15. 嵇康
  16. 阮籍
  17. 张华
  18. 傅玄
  19. 潘岳
  20. 陆机
  21. 束皙
  22. 张协
  23. 郭璞
  24. 刘琨卢谌
  25. 陶渊明
  26. 谢瞻
  27. 谢灵运
  28. 谢惠连
  29. 鲍照
  30. 谢朓
  31. 沈约
  32. 江淹

FAQ

Does this book discuss only the 'Reserve' section? According to the materials here, this book centers on the 'Reserve' mode from the Twenty-Four Poetic Modes and is a thematic reader rather than a complete exposition of all twenty-four modes. If you need an overview of the whole book, choose an edition that includes all the modes.
What does 'reserve' mainly mean as a poetic concept? It roughly means that poetry contains rich meaning within limited language, not saying everything outright, so that readers gain room for afterthought beyond the words. For specific formulations, see the original text and related annotations; different commentators understand it somewhat differently.
What background should I have before reading this poetic discussion? It is best to have some experience reading classical poetry and to be familiar with common poetic forms and imagery; you should also be able to use annotations to understand classical Chinese. If your foundation is weak, read a few famous Tang poems first before entering the theoretical text.

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About the author

陈绎曾 Author

Chen Yizeng is an author in the field of classical Chinese literary theory and poetics, about whom little public information is available; his dates, native place, and life events are difficult to establish with certainty. Judging from the four works recorded in the collection, his writing addresses the core areas of traditional literati cultivation, including poetics, prose composition, and calligraphy. Shiyu discusses the forms, prosody, and development of poetry; Wenshuo deals with methods of prose writing and the distinctions between genres; and Hanlin Yaoue concerns writing techniques and brushwork norms. Though modest in scale, these writings show an emphasis on rules and standards and bear the character of introductory guidance and the transmission of family methods, and they are often classified under Eastern philosophy, social sciences, and literary appreciation. Because the original texts are scattered or not widely circulated, modern knowledge of Chen Yizeng relies largely on bibliographic records and later citations, yet his views remain of reference value in traditional poetic and prose criticism and in the transmission of calligraphic learning.