Songci Sanbaishou: 300 Song Ci

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Three Hundred Song Ci Poems is a selection of Song dynasty ci poems compiled by the renowned late Qing and early Republican scholar Zhu Zumou (also known by his studio name, Qiangcun). It contains three hundred poems, spanning from the Northern Song to the Southern Song, and is one of the most influential introductory anthologies of Song ci in the twentieth century. Zhu Qiangcun, a master of ci studies in the late Qing, compiled this anthology with a balance of artistic merit and representation of different schools, emphasizing both the delicate and graceful style (wanyue) and the bold and unconstrained style (haofang), reflecting the editorial principle of "preserving both orthodox and variant traditions."

The anthology includes masterpieces by renowned poets such as Su Shi, Xin Qiji, Li Qingzhao, Liu Yong, Zhou Bangyan, Jiang Kui, and Wu Wenying. Famous works like Prelude to Water Melody: How Long Will the Full Moon Appear?, Charm of a Maiden Singer: Recalling the Past at Red Cliff, Slow Slow Song: Searching and Seeking, and Bells Ringing in the Rain: A Pair of Chirping Cicadas showcase the rich achievements of Song ci in expressing emotions, narrating events, describing objects, and reflecting on the past. Alongside Tang poetry, Song ci is celebrated for its use of irregular line lengths, allowing for a more flexible expression of nuanced feelings and reflections on life.

As a classic anthology of ci poetry, Three Hundred Song Ci Poems forms part of the ci tradition alongside works like Among the Flowers and Thatched Cottage Poetry. Since the twentieth century, scholars such as Tang Guizhang have conducted extensive research on it, and various annotated and commented editions have become widely popular, serving as essential texts for poetry enthusiasts and students alike.

This anthology distills the essence of the ci world over three centuries of the Song dynasty, making it the best gateway into the world of Song ci. Reading this book allows one to appreciate the unique charm of ci as "a distinct art form" and to experience the formal evolution and aesthetic expansion from poetry to ci in classical Chinese literature.

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