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The Works of Li Qingzhao, introduction and poems 1.1 to 1.5
This week we're reading The Works of Li Qingzhao, freely available via De Gruyter's Library of Chinese Humanities in Mandarin and English and via several publication formats, including two open access options (the pdf appears to be better formatted than the ebook; it might be worth someone letting them know as much). We're starting with the introduction and poems 1.1 to 1.5, inclusive.
This collection uses footnotes and end notes to explicate the work (though none of this week's poems has an end note).
We might get into more English exegesis, but this week the Introduction gives us more than enough of that to be getting on with.
CLP has an episode on Li Qingzhao you might find relevant.
This collection uses footnotes and end notes to explicate the work (though none of this week's poems has an end note).
We might get into more English exegesis, but this week the Introduction gives us more than enough of that to be getting on with.
CLP has an episode on Li Qingzhao you might find relevant.
Re: 1.2 浯溪中興頌詩和張文潛(二首) The Wuxi Restoration Eulogy Tablet, I
"Lads who trained fighting cocks in Five Imperial Pens / never worried about growing old amid their meat and ale" so is this just to say--the palace had many retainers, even some that seem stupidly luxuriant, and they lived well and never dreamed this kind of calamity was possible?
"crushing pearls and feathers until the dirt was fragrant." but neither has any smell?
"what need had they to record it meticulously in writing?" so contrastingly, Xuanzong recorded his own merits?
"To commemorate virtue in a tablet truly is debasing,
left then for spirits and ghosts to obliterate on a cliff." ?
"Ziyi and Guangbi had no doubts or jealousies," is this contrasting the more sturdy generals with the Emperor? How is the Emperor characterised by 'doubt'?
"the Restoration Tablet." Is this what she's implicitly referring to earlier? Presumably a grandiose writing Xuanzong comissioned?
"playthings" what a strange word choice, like he's three
What does the last couplet have to do with anything?
Re: 1.2 浯溪中興頌詩和張文潛(二首) The Wuxi Restoration Eulogy Tablet, I
From Baike:
The emperor loved cockfighting and this distraction led to his downfall. Later generations will use "Five Imperial Pens children" to refer to those who do not do honest work.
The meat and ale is glossed as a luxurious life.
Yeah, she's saying Xuanzong in contrast sucksssss.
"left then for spirits and ghosts to obliterate on a cliff" -- the Baike vernacular sounds more like 'might as well ask ghosts and deities to wear down a mountain'?